France 1641-& 1/2 franc

Jean Elsen sale 145, lot 1098

from the Mountain Groan Collection

This specimen was lot 1098 in Jean Elsen sale 145 (Brussels, September 2020), where it sold for €150 (about US$214 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"FRANCE, Royaume, Louis XIII (1610-1643), AR demi-franc, 1641&, Aix. D/ B. juvénile à d., l., dr. et cuir., au col rabattu. R/ Croix fleuronnée et fleurdelisée, L au centre. Rare. Beau/Très Beau. (kingdom of France, Louis XIII, 1610-43, silver half franc of 1641, Aix mint. Obverse: laureate, draped and armored young bust right in flat collar; reverse: floriate cross, "L" in center. Rare, Fine/Very Fine.)"

Droulers^[2] calls this variety the demi-franc mousquetaire as the king's collar resembles that worn by the musketeers. Much variety exists between mints and between years but this date is noted as somewhat available. These are not usually found heavily worn; the bad details result from bad dies and bad strikes.

Recorded mintage: 270,210^[2].

Specification: 7.09 g, 0.833 fine silver, 29 mm diameter, plain edge, engraved by Nicolas Briot, this specimen 7,10 g.

Catalog reference: KM 118.3, Dr/4 № 58, Dr/2 № 59, Dupl-1326; Gad-41.

Source:

^[2]Droulers, Frédéric, Répertoire General des Monnaies de Louis XIII à Louis XVI (1610-1792), 2nd édition. Paris: AFPN, 1998.
Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Royales Françaises, 1610-1792, 5me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2018.
Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
^[1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 145, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2020.

Link to:

France 1641-& 1/2 franc

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