Metz 1639 goldgulden Fr-165
This specimen was lot 69 in Jean Elsen sale 146 (Brussels, November 2020), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, METZ, Ville, AV florin d'or au buste, 1639. D/ B. nimbé de saint Etienne à g. PROTOMARTYR en fin de légende. R/ Petit écu de la ville dans un polylobe orné de lis et cantonné d'annelets. Extrêmement rare Défaut de flan et très légère trace de bélière. Très Beau. Provient de la collection Teitgen, Paris, 26-28 octobre 2015, 842. (city of Metz, gold florin of the bust of 1639. Obverse: nimbate bust of St. Etienne left, PROTOMARTYR at the end of the legend; reverse: small shield of the city in an ornate polylobe and cantonned with rings. Extremely rare, planchet defect and trace of mounting; Very Fine.)"
The town of Metz was occupied by the French in the 1550's but was not annexed until the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648. This rare type is listed in the SCWC for 1639 only and was the last gold coin issued by the town.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: gold, this specimen 3,23 g.
Catalog reference: KM 33, Fr-165, Flon 727, 9; coll. Robert 753; coll. Monnier 1067.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 146: Collection Anthony Lorrain Monnaies de Metz, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2020.
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