View source for Besancon 1544 carolus

[[Image:Besancon SB518-70458o.jpg|300px|thumb|from the Stack's Bowers 2018 Collector's Choice sale, lot 70458]]
[[Image:Besancon SB518-70458r.jpg|300px|thumb]]
[[Image:Franche Comte 1648.jpg|550px|thumb|Franche Comte in 1648, from Putzger's Atlas]]

This specimen was lot 70458 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Santa Ana, CA, May 2018), where it sold for $90. The catalog description<sup>[1]</sup> noted, "[[France|FRANCE]]. Besancon. Carolus, 1544. Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. PCGS AU-53 Secure Holder. Crowned, draped, and armored bust left; double annulet stops. Nicely struck with strong luster." Besançon was the chief city of the Franche Comté, or Free County of Burgundy. Franche Comté was part of the Burgundian inheritance which passed to the Hapsburgs in the 1490's and thence to Philip II of Spain on the abdication of Charles V in 1556. Besançon, being an imperial free city, was not directly involved in these transfers but was invaded and annexed to France by Louis XIV as a result of the Thirty Years War. Her coinage ceased in 1673. This type is listed for 1537-70, 1575, 1579-87 and 1597.

''Recorded mintage:'' unknown.

''Specification:'' 1.39 g, silver, 18 mm diameter.

''Catalog reference:'' Roberts-7005, KM-MB6. 

''[[Bibliography|Source:]]''
* Roberts, James N., ''The Silver Coins of Medieval France (476-1610 AD),'' S. Salem, NY: Attic Books, 1996.
* <sup>[1]</sup>Ponterio, Richard, Kyle Ponterio and Chris Chatigny, ''The May 2018 Collector's Choice Sale,'' Santa Ana, CA: [http://www.stacksbowers.com Stack's Bowers LLC], 2018.

''Link to:''
* [[Besancon 1543 carolus|1543 carolus]]
* [[Besancon 1543 2 teston Dav-8940|1543 double teston]]
* [[Lorraine 1544 teston]]
* [[Besancon 1546 1/2 carolus]]
* [[Besancon 1546 carolus]]
* [[Coins and currency dated 1544]]
* return to [[French royal coinage (to 1793)]]

[[Category: Silver minors of France]][[Category:Selections from the Stack's Bowers 2018 Collector's Choice sale]]