France 1559-H teston

Jean Elsen sale 141, lot 1101

This specimen was lot 1101 in Jean Elsen sale 141 (Brussels, June 2019), where it sold for €170 (about US$225 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"FRANCE, Royaume, François II (1559-1560), AR teston, 1559H, La Rochelle. 3e type. A l'effigie et au titre d'Henri II. D/ B. l. et cuir. à d. R/ Ecu de France couronné, entre deux H couronnés. Rare Petits défauts de flan. Très Beau. Provient de notre vente 68, 15 décembre 2001, 1226. (kingdom of France, Francis II, 1559-60, silver teston of 1559, La Rochelle mint, third type, with the bust and title of Henry II. Obverse: laureate and armored bust right; reverse: crowned arms of France between two crowned "H's". Minor flan defects, Very Fine.)"

This type had a face value of 11 sols, 4 deniers. It was struck 1559-60 during the reign of Francis II but with the laureate bust of Henry II.

Recorded mintage: est. 43,299, including large bust (shown here) and small bust; a common date.

Specification: 9.598 g, .899 fine silver, this specimen 9,41 g

Catalog reference: Dupl-1033; Ci. 1335; Laf. 867, 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.
• 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.

Link to:

• 1559-K teston
• 1559-M teston
• 1559-B demi-henri d'or
• 1559-B henri d'or
• 1560-M teston
• Coins and currency dated 1559
• return to French royal coinage (to 1793)