France 1555-A teston

Jean Elsen sale 141, lot 1096

This specimen was lot 1096 in Jean Elsen sale 141 (Brussels, June 2019), where it sold for €700 (about US$928 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"FRANCE, Royaume, Henri II (1547-1559), AR teston au moulin, 1555A, Paris. 4e type. D/ B. l. et cuir. à d. R/ Ecu de France couronné. Très rare. Très Beau. Provient de notre vente 59, 21 septembre 1999, 2538. (kingdom of France, Henry II, 1547-59, silver milled teston of 1555, Paris mint, fourth type. Obverse: laureate and armored bust right; reverse: crowned arms of France. Very rare, Very Fine.)"

This type had a face value of 11 sols, 4 deniers. The teston au moulin was struck in a press at Paris 1554-58. Productivity was low and the coinage press was abandoned until the 1640's.

Recorded mintage: est. 29,376.

Specification: 9.598 g, .899 fine silver, this specimen 9,44 g.

Catalog reference: Dupl-990; Ci. 1285; Laf. 828, Sb 4588.

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.

Link to:

• 1554-A teston au moulin
• 1554-G teston
• France 1555-D 1/2 teston
• France 1555-L 1/2 teston
• France 1555-H teston
• France 1555-L teston
• France 1555-M teston
• 1555-K henri d'or
• 1555 huit henri d'or à la Gallia
• Coins and currency dated 1555
• return to French royal coinage (to 1793)