France 1584-M franc

Jean Elsen sale 147, lot 1512

This specimen was lot 1512 in Jean Elsen sale 147 (Brussels, June 2021), where it sold for €900 (about US$1,315 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"FRANCE, Royaume, Henri III (1574-1589), AR franc au col fraisé, 1584M, Toulouse. D/ B. l. et cuir. à d. R/ Croix feuillue et fleurdelisée, H en coeur. Différent: C (Pierre Catellan). Beau portrait. Très Beau à Superbe. Provient de la collection P. Devaux, Paris, 7 novembre 2008, 2237. (kingdom of France, Henry III, 1574-89, silver franc of the ruffed collar of 1584, Toulouse mint. Obverse: laureate and armored bust right; reverse: floriate cross, "H" at center. Very Fine - Extremely Fine.)"

This franc d'argent had a face value of 20 sols tournois and was struck 1575-86. This subtype with a ruffed collar was struck almost exclusively at Toulouse. Other mints striking silver francs used a different collar on the king's bust.

Recorded mintage: 186,300, an uncommon date.

Specification: 14.18 g, 0.833 fine silver, this specimen 14,14 g.

Catalog reference: Dupl-1130A; Ci. 1434; Laf. 970, Sb-4720.

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 147: Monnaies, Médailles et Décorations, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2021.

Link to:

• 1582-G franc au col plat
• 1582-M franc au col fraisé
• 1584-M double sol parisis
• 1584-F quart d'écu
• 1584-A écu d'or au soleil
• 1585-M franc au col fraisé
• Coins and currency dated 1584
• return to French royal coinage (to 1793)