France (1515-40) hardi
This specimen was lot 1062 in Jean Elsen sale 145 (Brussels, September 2020), where it sold for €240 (about US$342 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Royaume, François Ier (1515-1547), AR hardi, s.d., Turin. 1er type. D/ Le roi à mi-corps de f., couronné et cuirassé, ten. une épée et un sceptre. R/ Croix cantonnée de deux lis et deux F. Très rare. Très Beau. Provient de Monnaies 20, 18 juin 2004, 346. (kingdom of France, Francis I, 1515-47, undated silver hardi, Turin mint, first type. Obverse: half-length bust of the king facing, crowned and armored, holding a sword and a scepter; reverse: a cross cantonned with two lilies and two "F's". Very rare, Very Fine.)"
This hardi was struck only at the Turin mint during Francis's Italian wars. It had the same face value of three deniers tournois as the pure copper liards of Louis XV and XVI.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 1.09 g, 0.193 fine silver, this specimen 0,95 g.
Catalog reference: Dupl-863; Ci. 1177; Laf. 722.
- 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.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 145, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2020.
Link to:
- (1515-17) liard au dauphin
- (1515-40) grand blanc de Bretagne, Rennes mint
- (1515-47) grand blanc du Dauphiné, Crémieu mint
- (1515) grand blanc à la couronne (douzain)
- (1515-40) demi-teston, Lyon mint
- (1515-40) demi-teston, Tours mint
- (1515-40) teston, Rouen mint
- (1515-40) teston, Lyon mint
- (1515-28) écu d'or au soleil du Dauphiné
- (1515-47) écu d'or au soleil de Bretagne, Rennes mint
- (1515) écu d'or au soleil, Lyon mint
- Coins and currency dated 1515
- return to French royal coinage (to 1793)