France 1635-StP denier tournois

from Jean Elsen sale 132, lot 760

This specimen was lot 760 in Jean Elsen sale 132 (Brussels, March 2017), where it sold for €600 (about US$760 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"FRANCE, Royaume, Louis XIII (1610-1643), Cu denier tournois de Navarre, 1635, Saint-Palais. D/ B. l. dr. et cuir. à d., au col fraisé. R/ Deux lis dans le champ, au-dessus de l'écusson de Navarre. Très rare. Très Beau. (kingdom of France, Louis XIII (1610-43), copper denier tournois of Navarre of 1635, St.-Palais mint. Obverse: laureate, draped bust to right in ruffed collar; reverse: two fleurs-de-lys, shield of Navarre below. Very rare, very fine.)"

This rare type was struck 1635 only at the St.-Palais mint in the Pyrenees. The double tournois were produced by private contractors in large quantities at a profusion of mints and in many varieties until the 1640's but its half, the denier tournois, is a much less common coin.

Recorded mintage: unknown but quite scarce.

Specification: 1.56 g, copper, 16-18 mm diameter, plain edge, engraved by Simon d'Armagnac; this specimen 1,04 g.

Catalog reference: Dr/4 № 279, Dr/2 № 209, Dupl-1380; Gad-4.

Source:

• Droulers, Frédéric, Répertoire General des Monnaies de Louis XIII à Louis XVI (1610-1792), 4e édition. Paris: AFPN, 2009.
• Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
• Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Royales Françaises, 1610-1792, 5me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2018.
• Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
• ^[1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 132, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2017.

Link to:

• 1626-A denier tournois
• Lixheim 1633 2 tournois
• 1635 double tournois de Navarre
• 1635-M demi-franc de Toulouse, buste juvenile lauré
• 1635-B écu d'or au soleil
• 1635-X écu d'or à la croix torsadée
• Coins and currency dated 1635
• return to French royal coinage (to 1793)