France 1554-M teston
This specimen was lot 1090 in Jean Elsen sale 141 (Brussels, June 2019), where it sold for €200 (about US$265 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Royaume, Henri II (1547-1559), AR teston, 1554M, Toulouse. 2e type. D/ B. cuir. à d., t. nue. R/ Ecu de France couronné, entre deux H couronnés. Fines griffes. Belle patine. Très Beau à Superbe. (kingdom of France, Henry II, 1547-59, silver teston of 1554, Toulouse mint, second type. Obverse: armored bust right with bare head; reverse: crowned arms of France between two crowned "H's". Fine scratches, nice toning, Very Fine - Extremely Fine.)"
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: unknown.
Specification: 9.598 g, .899 fine silver, this specimen 9,31 g.
Catalog reference: Dupl-983; Ci. 1271; Laf. 821.
- 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.
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