France 1578-P franc

Jean Elsen sale 141, lot 1125

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This specimen was lot 1125 in Jean Elsen sale 141 (Brussels, June 2019), where it did not sell. The catalog description^[1] noted,

"FRANCE, Royaume, Henri III (1574-1589), AR franc au col plat, 1578P, Dijon. D/ B. l. et cuir. à d. R/ Croix feuillue et fleurdelisée, H en coeur. Légère faiblesse de frappe. Nettoyé. Très Beau. (kingdom of France, Henry III, 1574-89, silver franc of the flat collar of 1578, Dijon mint. Obverse: laureate and armored bust right; reverse: leafed and floriate cross, H in the center. Slightly weak strike, cleaned, Very Fine.)"

This franc d'argent had a face value of 20 sols tournois and was struck 1575-86. The subtype with the flat collar (shown here) is Dupl-1130: the one with the ruffed collar is Dupl-1130A.

Recorded mintage: est. 409,239; a rare mint despite the large mintage. Sixteen of the 19 known specimens of this mint are 1578-P.

Specification: 14.18 g, .833 fine silver, this specimen 13,85 g.

Catalog reference: Dupl-1130; Ci. 1427; Laf. 970, Sb 4714.

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.
• ^[1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 141, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils, S.A., 2019.

Links to:

• 1576-B franc au col plat
• 1576-F franc au col plat
• 1576-T franc au col plat
• 1578-A quart d'écu
• France 1578-A franc au col plat
• 1578-E écu d'or au soleil, Tours mint
• 1578-F écu d'or au soleil, Angers mint
• 1578-K écu d'or au soleil
• 1578-P écu d'or au soleil
• 1582-G franc au col plat
• Coins and currency dated 1578
• return to French royal coinage (to 1793)