View source for France (1512)-Rouen 1/2 gros

[[Image:JE155-1664.jpg|550px|thumb|Jean Elsen sale 155, lot 1664]]

This specimen was lot 1664 in Jean Elsen sale 155 (Brussels, June 2023), where it sold for €1,200 (about US$1,572 including buyer's fees). The catalog description<sup>[1]</sup> noted, <blockquote>"''FRANCE, Royaume, Louis XII (1498-1515), AR demi-gros de roi, février 1512, point 15e, Rouen. D/ Ecu de France couronné, entre deux lis couronnés. R/ Croix échancrée, cantonnée de deux L onciaux et deux lis, chacun sur un annelet. Très rare. Très Beau. Provient de notre vente 130, 10 septembre 2016, 1028.'' (kingdom of [[France]], Louis XII, 1498-1515, silver royal half groat, Fedruary 1512, dot under 15th letter, Rouen mint. Obverse: crowned arms of France between two lilies; reverse: cross cantonned with uncial "L's" and two lilies. Very rare, Very Fine.)"</blockquote> This type, worth fifteen ''deniers tournois'', accompanied a ''gros de roi'' worth thirty ''deniers tournois''. There was also a ''douzain'' (twelve ''deniers tournois'') and a ''sizain'' (six ''deniers tournois''). Louis XII spent most of his reign and his treasure on his Italian adventures, wherein he tried and failed to conquer Milan and Naples.

''Recorded mintage:'' unknown but few.

''Specification:'' 3.55 g, .358 fine silver, this specimen 3,26 g. 

''Catalog reference:'' Roberts-3102, Dupl-663; Ci. 927; Laf. 604. 

''[[Bibliography|Source:]]''
* Duplessy, Jean, ''Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 2e édition,'' Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
* <sup>[1]</sup>Elsen, Philippe, et al., ''Vente Publique 155, Collection Marc Bar et Distinctions de Jean-Baptiste Nothomb'', Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2023.
* Roberts, James N., ''The Silver Coins of Medieval France (476-1610 AD)'', S. Salem, NY: Attic Books, 1996.

''Link to:''
* [[France (1512) dizain|(1512) ''dizain Ludovicus'', Lyon mint]]
* [[France (1512)-Lyon demi-gros|(1512) ''demi-gros de roi'', Lyon mint]]
* [[Coins and currency dated 1512]]
* return to [[French royal coinage (to 1793)]]

[[Category:Selections from Jean Elsen sale 155]][[Category:Silver minors of France]]