France 1555-H teston

Sincona sale 51, lot 3435

This specimen was lot 3435 in Sincona sale 51 (Zürich, October 2018), where it did not sell. The catalog description^[1] noted,

"Frankreich, Henri II. 1547-1559. Teston 1555 H, La Rochelle. Gutes sehr schön. Leichter Doppelschlag, sonst schön ausgeprägt. (kingdom of France, Henry II, 1547-59, teston of 1555, La Rochelle mint. Good very fine, Minor double strike on reverse, otherwise well struck.)"

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 11 sols, 4 deniers tournois.

Recorded mintage: est. 22,950, a scarce date.

Specification: 9.59 g, .899 fine silver, this specimen 9.49 g.

Catalog reference: Duplessy 983, Sb 4558.

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]Richter, Jürg, Sincona Auction 51: Gold and Silver Coins and Medals; Coins and Medals from Switzerland, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2018.

Link to:

• 1554-A teston
• 1555-D demi-teston
• 1555-L demi-teston
• 1555-A teston au moulin
• 1555-L teston
• 1555-M teston
• 1555 huit henri d'or à la Gallia
• 1556-D teston
• Coins and currency dated 1555
• return to French royal coinage (to 1793)