Navarre 1578 franc
This specimen was lot 1056 in Jean Elsen sale 157 (Brussels, December 2023), where it sold for €130 (about US$168 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, BEARN, Henri II (1572-1589), AR franc, 1578, Pau. Au titre de roi de Navarre. D/ Grand b. l. et cuir. à d. En dessous, vaquette. R/ Croix formée de quatre fleurons, cantonnée de quatre H non couronnés. Rare. Beau à Très Beau. (France, kingdom of Bearn, Henry II, 1572-89, silver franc of 1578, Pau mint, in the name of the king of Navarre. Obverse: large laureate and armored bust right, cow privy mark below; reverse: cross formed of four leaves, cantonned with four H's. Rare, Fine - Very Fine.)"
Roberts shows this franc dated 1582. This particular Henry, who later became Henry IV of France, was Henry II of Navarre. In the sixteenth century, Navarre was still autonomous and struck its own coinage but Henry IV merged it with France. Most of the region ended up part of Spain. Roberts shows this design in his book along with a half franc of 1580 (Roberts-6992) and another franc of 1582 (Roberts-6991) with a shield on the reverse instead of crowned H's.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 14.18 g, 0.833 fine silver, this specimen 13,99 g.
Catalog reference: B. 603; P.A. 3484 var.; D. 1321, Roberts-6993.
- Roberts, James N., The Silver Coins of Medieval France (476-1610 AD), S. Salem, NY: Attic Books, 1996.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 157, Collection J.-C. Martiny, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2023.
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