France 1587-B 1/2 franc
This specimen was lot 1130 in Jean Elsen sale 141 (Brussels, June 2019), where it sold for €380 (about US$504 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Royaume, Henri III (1574-1589), AR demi-franc au col plat, 1587B, Rouen. D/ B. l. et cuir. à d. R/ Croix feuillue et fleurdelisée, H en coeur. Beau portrait. Rare dans cette qualité. presque Superbe. (kingdom of France, Henry III, 1574-89, silver half franc of the flat collar of 1587, Rouen mint. Obverse: laureate and armored bust right; reverse: leafed and floriate cross, H in the center. Nice portrait, rare in this quality, about Extremely Fine.)"
This demi-franc d'argent had a face value of ten sols tournois and was struck 1575-89. The subtype with the flat collar (shown here) is Dupl-1131; the one with the ruffed collar is Dupl-1131B.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 7.09 g, .833 fine silver, this specimen 7,06 g.
Catalog reference: Dupl-1131; Ci. 1430; Laf. 971.
- 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.
Links to:
- 1587-D double tournois
- 1587-K quart de franc au col plat
- 1587-A demi-franc au col gaufré
- 1587-G demi-franc au col plat
- 1587-X demi-franc au col plat
- 1587-C quart d'écu
- 1587-G quart d'écu
- 1587-A écu d'or au soleil
- 1587-B écu d'or au soleil
- 1587-E écu d'or au soleil
- Coins and currency dated 1587
- return to French royal coinage (to 1793)