France 1552-D teston
This specimen was lot 1086 in Jean Elsen sale 141 (Brussels, June 2019), where it sold for €950 (about US$1,259 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Royaume, Henri II (1547-1559), AR teston au buste couronné, 1552D, Lyon. 1er type. D/ B. cuir. et couronné à d. R/ Ecu de France couronné, entre deux H couronnés. Belle patine. Très Beau à Superbe. (kingdom of France, Henry II, 1547-59, silver teston of the crowned bust of 1552, Lyon mint, first type. Obverse: crowned and armored bust right; reverse: crowned arms of France between two crowned "H's". 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 1549-57 with a face value of 11 sols, 4 deniers tournois.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 9.598 g, .899 fine silver, this specimen 9,34 g.
Catalog reference: Dupl-981; Ci. 1264; Laf. 819.
- 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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