France 1575-9 teston

Jean Elsen sale 141, lot 1115

This specimen was lot 1115 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 teston, 15759, Rennes. A l'effigie et au titre de Charles IX. D/ B. l. et cuir. à g. R/ Ecu de France couronné, entre deux C couronnés. Beau à Très Beau. (kingdom of France, Henry III, 1574-89, silver teston of 1575, Rennes mint, with the effigy and name of Charles IX. Obverse: laureate and armored bust left; reverse: crowned arms between two crowned "C's". Fine - Very Fine.)"

This is the first teston struck for Henry III but bears the effigy and name of his dead brother Charles IX. It was struck 1575-76 at nine mints and was worth 12 sols tournois. Note the date in Roman numerals.

Recorded mintage: est. 406,495 (including the unbearded teston of Charles IX and a few with the bust of Henry III).

Specification: 9.598 g, .899 fine silver, this specimen 9,43 g.

Catalog reference: Dupl-1100; Ci. -; Laf. -, Sb 4634.

Source:

• Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
• Roberts, James N., The Silver Coins of Medieval France (476-1610 AD), S. Salem, NY: Attic Books, 1996.
• 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:

• 1573-M teston
• 1573-A teston, piedfort
• 1575-B teston
• 1575-K teston
• 1575-M teston
• 1575-B écu d'or au soleil
• 1575-H écu d'or au soleil
• 1576-A teston
• 1576-H teston
• Coins and currency dated 1575
• return to French royal coinage (to 1793)