France 1575-B teston

Jean Elsen sale 141, lot 1119

This specimen was lot 1119 in Jean Elsen sale 141 (Brussels, June 2019), where it sold for €245 (about US$325 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"FRANCE, Royaume, Henri III (1574-1589), AR teston, 1575B, Rouen. D/ B. l., dr. et cuir. à d., au col plat. R/ Ecu de France couronné, entre deux H couronnés. Belle patine. Rare dans cette qualité. Très Beau à Superbe. (kingdom of France, Henry III, 1574-89, silver teston of 1575, Rouen mint. Obverse: laureate, draped and armored bust right with flat collar; reverse: crowned arms between two crowned "H's". Nice patina, rare in this quality, Very Fine - Extremely Fine.)"

This is the first teston struck for Henry III to bear his effigy and name instead of his dead brother Charles IX. It was struck 1575-77 and was worth 12 sols tournois. It comes with the king's bust in a ruffed collar (Dupl-1126) or a flat collar (Dupl-1126A). Note the date in Arabic numerals.

Recorded mintage: est. 389,691 (including testons with the bust of Charles IX), a common date.

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

Catalog reference: Dupl-1126A; Ci. -; Laf. 966, Sb 4658.

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-K teston
• 1575-M teston
• 1575-9 teston
• 1575-H écu d'or au soleil
• 1576-A teston
• 1576-G teston
• 1576-H teston
• 1576-L teston
• 1576-M teston
• Coins and currency dated 1575
• return to French royal coinage (to 1793)