France 1558-A teston

from Jean Elsen sale 132, lot 744

This specimen was lot 744 in Jean Elsen sale 132 (Brussels, March 2017), where it did not sell. The catalog description^[1] noted,

"FRANCE, Royaume, Henri II (1547-1559), AR teston du moulin, 1558A, Paris. 4e type. D/ B. l. et cuir. à d. R/ Ecu de France couronné. Rare Fines griffes. Beau à Très Beau. (kingdom of France, Henry II (1547-59), silver milled teston of 1558, Paris mint, fourth type. Obverse: laureate, cuirassed bust to right; reverse: crowned arms of France. Rare, fine scratches, fine to very fine.)"

This teston was struck at the Paris mint 1554-58 along with the usual hammered coinage (Dupl-983). Milled coinage was experimental in the sixteenth century and would not be generally adopted in France until the reform of 1640-42, being strongly resisted by the moneyers' guild.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 9.59 g, .899 fine silver, this specimen 9,22 g.

Catalog reference: Dupl-990; Ci. 1285; Laf. 828.

Source:

• Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
• ^[1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 132, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2017.

Link to:

• France 1558 ecu au moulin
• Scotland 1558 testoon S-5416 Francis and Mary
• 1558-H double henri d'or
• 1559-K teston
• 1561-L teston
• Coins and currency dated 1558
• return to French royal coinage (to 1793)