France 1575-B teston
This specimen was lot 1119 in Jean Elsen sale 141 (Brussels, June 2019), where it sold for €245 (about US$325 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Royaume, Henri III (1574-1589), AR teston, 1575B, Rouen. D/ B. l., dr. et cuir. à d., au col plat. R/ Ecu de France couronné, entre deux H couronnés. Belle patine. Rare dans cette qualité. Très Beau à Superbe. (kingdom of France, Henry III, 1574-89, silver teston of 1575, Rouen mint. Obverse: laureate, draped and armored bust right with flat collar; reverse: crowned arms between two crowned "H's". Nice patina, rare in this quality, Very Fine - Extremely Fine.)"
This is the first teston struck for Henry III to bear his effigy and name instead of his dead brother Charles IX. It was struck 1575-77 and was worth 12 sols tournois. It comes with the king's bust in a ruffed collar (Dupl-1126) or a flat collar (Dupl-1126A). Note the date in Arabic numerals.
Recorded mintage: est. 389,691 (including testons with the bust of Charles IX), a common date.
Specification: 9.598 g, .899 fine silver, this specimen 9,43 g.
Catalog reference: Dupl-1126A; Ci. -; Laf. 966, Sb 4658.
- 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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