View source for France 1577-A 1/2 teston

[[Image:S76-1084.jpg|550px|thumb|Sincona sale 76, lot 1084]]

This specimen was lot 1084 in Sincona sale 76 (Zurich, May 2022), where it sold for 7,500 CHF (about US$9,104 including buyer's fees). The catalog description<sup>[1]</sup> noted, <blockquote>"''FRANCE | Kingdom. Henri III. 1574-1589. 1/2 Teston 1577 A, Paris (moulin des Etuves). Piéfort. Mit Randschrift: PACI ° QVIETI ° AC ° FOELICITATI ° PVBLICAE ° + Äusserst selten. Gutes vorzüglich. NGC AU55. Feine Patina.'' (kingdom of [[France]], Henry III, 1574-89, half teston of 1577, Paris mint, Etuves workshop. piedfort, lettered edge, Extremely rare, Good extremely fine, Nicely toned.)"</blockquote> Sombart reports four different half testons for Henry III before production was terminated in 1577. None match this piefort which, with its lettered edge, was struck on a press and not by the hammer. The teston, victim of extensive counterfeiting, was superseded by the quart d'écu after 1578. This is a pattern or presentation piece.

''Recorded mintage:'' unknown.

''Specification:'' 4.79 g, 0.899 fine silver. This specimen is 19.02 g. 

''Catalog reference:'' Duplessy -. Lafaurie 969 b. Ciani 1419. 

''[[Bibliography|Source:]]''
* Duplessy, Jean, ''Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 2e édition'', Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
* Sombart, Stéphan, ''Franciae IV: Catalogue des Monnaies Royales Françaises de François Ier à Henri IV (1540-1610)'', Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 1997.
* <sup>[1]</sup>Richter, Jurg, ''SINCONA Auction 76, The Annemarie and Gerd Köhlmoos Collection'', Zurich: SINCONA AG, 2022. 

''Link to:''
* [[France 1576-A teston|1576-A teston]]
* [[France 1576-G teston|1576-G teston]] 
* [[France 1576-H teston|1576-H teston]]
* [[France 1576-M teston|1576-M teston]] 
* [[France 1577-E 1/2 franc|1577-E ''demi-franc'']]
* [[France 1577-A franc|1577-A piedfort ''franc au col plat'']]
* [[Coins and currency dated 1577]]
* return to [[French royal coinage (to 1793)]]

[[Category:Selections from Sincona sale 75, 76, 77]][[Category: Silver minors of France]]