France 1557-C 1/2 teston

Jean Elsen sale 134, lot 1677

French coins purchased through this affiliate link earn us commissions at no cost to you

This specimen was lot 1677 in Jean Elsen sale 134 (Brussels, September 2017), where it sold for €220 (about US$311 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"FRANCE, Royaume, Henri II (1547-1559), AR demi-teston, 1557C, Saint-Lô. 2e type. D/ B. cuir. à d., t. nue. R/ Ecu de France couronné, entre deux H couronnés. Rare. presque Très Beau. (kingdom of France, Henry II, 1547-59, silver half teston of 1557, St. Lo mint, second type. Obverse: armored and draped bust right with bare head; reverse: crowned arms of France between two crowned "H's". Rare, about very fine.)"

The portrait is of Henry II (r. 1547-59). Milled coinage was experimental in the sixteenth century and would not be generally adopted in France until the reform of 1640-42. This type is listed in Duplessy for 1551-58 with a face value of 5 sols, 8 deniers tournois. It is much scarcer than the teston.

Recorded mintage: 18,360 (including the more common teston), a rare date.

Specification: 4.79 g, .899 fine silver, this specimen 4,13 g.

Catalog reference: Dupl. 984; Ci. 1290; Laf. 822, Sb 4560.

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 134, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils, S.A., 2017.

Link to:

• 1555-L demi-teston
• 1557-M demi-teston
• 1557-N henri d'or
• 1557-B double henri d'or
• Coins and currency dated 1557
• return to French royal coinage (to 1793)