View source for Besancon 1666 3 pistoles Fr-75a

[[Image:H3096-30207o.jpg|300px|thumb|Heritage sale 3096, lot 30207]]
[[Image:H3096-30207r.jpg|300px|thumb]]

This specimen was lot 30207 in Heritage auction 3096 (Dallas, TX, March 2021), where it sold for $9,000. The catalog description<sup>[1]</sup> noted, <blockquote>"German States: Besançon. Free City gold 3 Pistoles 1666 AU Details (Removed From Jewelry) NGC. With the name and titles of Charles V. Among the largest gold denominations produced by the city of Besançon, and one that immediately allows for a greater appreciation of its designs owing to its broader format. A light scattering of marks is visible across the surfaces, as are the effects of a past cleaning, all of which are typical of ex-jewelry pieces. Despite that, the edges show surprisingly little evidence of a harsh mount removal, the full graining present without any clear signs of having been repaired. Particularly intriguing as a historical specimen, as Charles' granting of minting rights to the city in 1534 lead to its continued use of his name and titles long after his death. We have only been able to locate one other (comparatively nicer) example of this type at auction in recent years, which brought 11,100 Euros in December 2017. From the Paramount Collection."</blockquote> This type was issued with a single and double pistole. Besançon received its mint right from Charles V in 1534 and honored him by placing his effigy on its coins.

''Recorded mintage:'' unknown.

''Specification:'' 18.33 g, gold, this specimen 18.31 g. 

''Catalog reference:'' KM-Unl., Fr-75a1 (under [[France]]), PdA-Unl., Boudeau-Unl., Dupl-3072 (listed as a Quadruple Pistole). 

''[[Bibliography|Source:]]''
* Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, ''Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed.'', Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
* 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. 
* <sup>[1]</sup>Bierrenbach, Cristiano and Warren Tucker, ''Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3096, featuring the Paramount Collection of World & Ancient Coins,'' Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2021.

''Link to:''
* [[Besancon 1664 2 ducats Fr-75a|1664 double ducat]]
* [[Besancon 1666 thaler Dav-5070|1666 thaler]]
* [[Coins and currency dated 1666]]
* return to [[French royal coinage (to 1793)]]

[[Category:Selections from Heritage sale 3096]][[Category: Gold coins of France]]