| Most viewed - FRANCE: Feudal & Medieval/Early Modern Royal |
France (Feudal): Dombes (Principality of Dombes). Gaston d’Orléans, prince usufructuary (1627-1650)63 viewsPoey d’Avant 5207 var., Divo Dombes 210 var., CGKL 756, Boudeau 1088
AE denier tournois, dated 1649. 17 mm. Trévoux mint.
Obv: GAST • PATR • R • VSFR • PR • DOM • A •, bust facing right, in a circle.
Rev: + DENIER • TOVRNOIS • 1649, three lilies under a lambel.
Dombes became a sovereign principality in 1402 (shortly after Louis II, Duke of Bourbon acquired both the northern and southern parts of the area and consolidated them), and continued as such until 1762, when it was surrendered to the crown.
Gaston (1608-1660), the third son of Henri IV and Mary de Médicis, became Duke of Orléans upon the death of his brother in 1611. In 1627 he married the daughter of Duke Henri of Bourbon-Montpensier. She died in 1627 giving birth to their daughter, Ann Mary Louise d’Orléans (1627-1693), and Gaston was usufructuary for the girl until 1650.
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France (Feudal): Strasbourg (Municipality of Strasbourg), 1482-166758 viewsRoberts 9070, Boudeau 1335, Engel-Lehr 398-401
AR kreuzer (two deniers), 17 mm.
Obv: + GLA • IN EXCELS DO, central lily.
Rev: + MONETA • ARGEN, central lily.
The obverse legend is an abbreviated form of “GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO” ("Glory to God in the highest”), which are the words sung by the angels at the birth of Jesus in Luke 2:14. The words entered the Roman Catholic liturgy as the title and first words of a hymn known as the Great Doxology and the Hymnus Angelicus.
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France (Feudal): Valence (Bishops of Valence and Die), 12th – 13th Century44 viewsPoey d’Avant 4690, Roberts 4782 var., Boudeau 1021, Belaubre 965
AR denier, 18 mm.
Obv: + VRBS VALENTIAI, angel with spread wings, resembling an eagle, facing.
Rev: + S APOLLINARS, cross with annulet in second quarter.
In 1275 the bishoprics of Valence and Die were merged. The reverse legend refers to St. Apollinaris, who is the patron saint of the cathedral in Valence.
Valence deniers are found in significant quantities in coin hoards from the Crusader possessions in the east. For this reason, the emission is also catalogued as Metcalf (Crusades & Latin East), 39-40, Metcalf Group Di. It is possible that some of the cruder varieties, such as this, are in fact eastern imitations of the French issue.
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France (Royal): Henri IV (1589-1610)44 viewsDuplessy 1273, Ciani 1576-1577, Lafaurie 111, Sombart 4168
AE double tournois, dated 1607, Lyons mint, by François Pascal (1606-1609). 20 mm.
Obv: HENRI • IIII • R • DE • FRAN • ET • NAVAR + D, Laureate cuirassed bust right.
Rev: + DOVBLE + TOVRNOIS + 1607, Three lilies.
Note: As KM 162, but this date and mintmark combination is not listed.
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France (Feudal): Duchy of Brittany. John I, “the Red” (1237-1286)42 viewsRoberts 4611 var., Poey d'Avant 356 var. (plate 11, no. 14), Boudeau 36-37 var. , Duplessy 73 var. (apparently no pellet on obverse after the X in the sources)
AR denier, Vannes mint [?], ca. 1250 [?], 19 mm.
Obv: + IOhANNES•DVX•, central cross.
Rev: + B-RIT-ANI-E, triangular shield of the house of Dreux in Brittany consisting of three spots and field of ermine.
John I (c. 1217/18–1286), known as John the Red due to the color of his beard, was the son of Duke Peter I, Duke of Brittany jure uxoris and Alix of Thouars, hereditary Duchess of Brittany. He was hereditary duke from 1221, upon his mother’s death, but his father ruled as regent until he reached adulthood. He experienced a number of conflicts with the Bishop of Nantes and the Breton clergy. In 1240, he issued an edict expelling Jews from the duchy and cancelling all debts to them. He joined Louis IX of France in the Eighth Crusade (1270), and survived the plague that killed the king. The duchy of Brittany experienced a century of peace, beginning with John I and ending with Duke John III's reign in 1341.Stkp
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France (Feudal): Dukes of Aquitaine. William X, the “Saint” (1127-1137).41 viewsRoberts, 4311, Boudeau 464, Poey d'Avant 2735
AR denier, Bordeaux mint, 18 mm.
Obv: + CLVILILMO [first L retrograde] (Guillaume), four crosslets forming a cross.
Rev: + BVRDECIILA (Bordeaux, Burdigalae in Latin), cross pattée.
William X (1099–1137), was Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, and Count of Poitou (as William VIII). He was the son of Duke William IX by his second wife, Philippa of Toulouse. He was born in Toulouse when his father was briefly the Count. Shortly after his birth his father went on Crusade, and he was raised in Poitiers by his mother. His father later abandoned her, and took Dangerose, the wife of one of his vassals, as mistress. This caused strain between father and son, until William married Aenor de Châtellerault, daughter of Dangerose, in 1121. They had three children, one of whom was Eleanor of Aquitaine, his heiress.
William was a lover of the arts and a warrior. He became involved in conflicts with Normandy and France. Inside his borders, he faced an alliance of the Lusignans and the Parthenays against him, an issue he resolved by the total destruction of his enemies. William X initially supported antipope Anacletus II in the papal schism of 1130, against the will of his own bishops. In 1134 Saint Bernard of Clairvaux convinced William to drop his support of Anacletus and to embrace Pope Innocent II.
In 1137 William joined the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, but died of suspected food poisoning during the trip. He left the dukedom and the care of his 15-year-old daughter to King Louis VI of France. Louis VI accepted this guardianship and married Eleanor to his son, Louis VII.Stkp
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France (Royal). Philippe IV, le Bel (the Fair) (1285-1314)33 viewsAR Gros Tournois à l’O rond (958‰ fineness). Struck 1285-1290. 3.81 g., 24.76 mm. max. (clipped), 0°
Ciani 206, LaFaurie 218, Duplessy 214, Dhénin 258, Roberts 2461
Obv.: + BNDICTV: SIT: NOmE: DNI: nRI: DEI: IhV. XPI with 3-pellet stops (= Benedictum Sit Nomen Domini Nostri Dei Ihesu Christus = Blessed in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ) around + PhILIPPVS REX around cross pattée.
Rev.: + TVRONVS CIVIS (= City of Tours) around châtel tournois, surrounded by floral border of twelve embedded lis.
Van Hengel (1997) Group 200 (PhILLIPPVS legend with no punctuation marks in PhILLIPVS REX and TVRONVS CIVITAS). Van Hengel initially hesitated over whether this group is imitative, i.e., the work of professional moneyers and struck by a minting authority with the right to mint coins, somewhere. He later (1999) concluded that the group is imitative. The variable letter characteristics of the coin, according to the Van Hengel system, are:
• The first three Ns in the obverse outer legend appear as Hs, which is a later development;
• The M in NOME is open, as per Tyler-Smith letter form 2 var., another late development;
• There is no single pellet stop before XPI;
• The R in PhILLIPVS is a variant letter form not depicted by Tyler-Smith;
• The T on the reverse is a non-specific variant letter form depicted but not numbered by Tyler-Smith;
• The Vs on the reverse are a variant letter form not depicted by Tyler-Smith;
• The N on the reverse is Tyler-Smith variant letter form 2 (retrograde).Stkp
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France (Feudal): Gien (County of Donzy). Geoffrey III (1120-1160) or Herve III (1160-1194).29 viewsBoudeau 297, Poey d'Avant 1998 (p. 42 no. 21), Duplessy 605, Legros 1565, Roberts 1497-8
AR denier, struck 1120-1191, 19 mm.
Obv: + GOSEDVS COS (Geoffroi, count), cross with staff and hammer in second angle and triangles in other three angles.
Rev: + GIEMIS CA (Castle of Gien), degraded monogram of Fulk of Anjou (legend begins at 9 o’clock).
The deniers of Gien were derived from those of Angers and bear a degraded monogram of Fulk of Angers. The reason for this is unclear as the regions are far apart and there is no connection between them. Standards of weight and fineness appear to have been similar, as records from 1202-3 value the denier giennois at 1.5 deniers parisis and the denier angevin at 1.46 d.p.
The deniers are struck in the name of a Count Geoffrey, and the type may have begun under Geoffrey II (1169-1184) or more probably Geoffrey III (1120-1160), but was immobilized after 1160. The coin is variously attributed to either or both of them, and also to Herve III (1160-1194). It ceased to be minted in 1191 when King Phillip II Augustus (1180-1223) acquired Gien and closed its mint.Stkp
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France (Feudal): Champagne, Provins and Sens, Anonymous, 11th and 12th Centuries27 viewsRoberts 4097 & 4724, Poey d'Avant 5966 var., Boudeau 1754-1755 var.
AR denier, Sens mint, ca. 1050-1125, 20 mm.
Obv: + RIL DVNS CATO [Castle of Provins], wool comb in lower field formed by circle of dots, o+o above (legend begins at 9 o’clock).
Rev: + SEEI OMS CIVI [City of Sens], cross in circle of dots, pellets in two quadrants, possible alpha and omega in other quadrants.
The field (champ) and comb (peigne) on the reverse is a visual pun on the name of the region.
Provins was home to two of the six Champagne and Brie fairs, which were the keys to its prosperity. The May Fair began on the Tuesday before Ascension and ran for 46 days, and the Fair of St. Ayoul began on the Exaltation of the Cross (September 14).Stkp
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France (Royal). Francis I (1515-1547)17 viewsBillon (179 parts per million AR) liard (valued at 3 deniers tournois). Struck 1541 in Limoges. .81 g., 16.51 mm. max., 0°
Cianni 1181, LaFaurie 790, Duplessy 930, Sombart 4290, Roberts 3331
Obv.: + FRAN : D : G : FRANC : REX : D . . . (pellet under 2nd N [10th letter], signifying Limoges), crowned F.
Rev.: + SIT : NOMEN DNI : BENEDIC . . . (= Blessed be the name of the Lord) (pellet under 2nd N [10th letter], signifying Limoges), cross with I (= Limoges mintmark) beneath.Stkp
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France (Feudal): Strasbourg (Municipality of Strasbourg)17 viewsRoberts 9069, Boudeau 1334
Billon kreuzer (= 2 deniers), 15th to 16th centuries; .66 g., 18.80 mm. max., 90°
Obv: + DEO * GLORIA (= thanks to God), surrounding inner circle enclosing fleur-de-lis.
Rev: + ARGENTINA (=Argentoratum = Latin for Strasbourg), surrounding inner circle enclosing fleur-de-lis.Stkp
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France (Feudal): Counts of Maine, by and in the name of Count Herbert I Éveille-Chien/Wakedog (1014-1035)15 viewsRoberts 4121, Poey d'Avant 1546-1598 Plate XXIX/16-XXX/5, Boudeau 171 (1f), Legros 572.
Billon denier, Le Mans mint, 1014-1246 (immobilized type): 1.16 g. 20.79 mm. max., 0
Obv.: + COMES CENOMANIS (ME ligature) (= Counts of Maine), degenerate monogram of Count Herbert I Éveille-Chien/Wakedog.
Rev.: + SIGNVM DEI VIVI (= Signe de Dieu vivant = Sign of the Living God), cross with pellets in the upper quadrants and alpha and omega in the lower.
Herbert was, at times, a nominal vassal of his neighbor Fulk III Nerra, Count of Anjou but otherwise considered himself independent. He obtained his nickname "Wake-dog" for having to constantly resist the intrusions of his Angevin neighbors to the south.Stkp
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France (Feudal): Strasbourg (Municipality of Strasbourg)15 viewsBoudeau 1329; Roberts 9052; Saurma 1980, plate XXXII 977; Engel & Lehr page 186, 318, plate XXXII II.
Billon hohlpfennig (bracteate), after 1334, probably 15th century; .35 g., 15.35 mm. max.
Obv: Fleur de lis with cross-type base and four pellets, surrounded by pearled border.
Rev.: Incuse.Stkp
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France (feudal): Charles of Valois, as Count of Anjou (1290-1325)15 viewsBoudeau 167, Poey d'Avant 1537, Plate XXIX No. 5, Duplessy 392, Roberts 4707, Legros 749
AR denier; Anger mint; .89 g., 19.84 mm. max., 90â–«
Obv: + KAROLVS COMES, cross
Rev: + *ANDEGAVENSIS (of Anjou), Clef/Key between vertical lis on the left and horizontal lis on the right.
Charles of Valois was the third son of King Philip III (1270–1285) of France, brother of King Philip IV (1285–1314) of France, and uncle of Kings Louis X (1314–1316), Philip V (1316-1322) and Charles IV (1322-1328) of France. He was also the son-in-law and brother-in-law to kings or queens of Navarre, England and Naples. Charles thus dreamed of more and sought and intrigued all his life for a crown he never obtained. If he had survived three years longer he would have inherited the French throne, which passed to his son, Philip VI (1293-1350), the first Valois king of France. It was said of Charles: "Son of a king, brother of a king, uncle of three kings, father of a king, but never king himself." Still. Charles was the founder of a dynasty of kings.
Through his first marriage, in 1290 to Margaret, Countess of Anjou, (1272–1299) and daughter of King Charles II of Naples, Charles became Count of Anjou and Maine.Stkp
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France (Feudal): Champagne, Provins. Count Thibaut II, The Great (1125-1152)13 viewsRoberts 4726, Poey d'Avant 5971 Plate CXXXVIII/18, Boudeau --
AR denier, Provins mint, .80 g., 19.88 mm. max., 180°
Obv: [+] TEBAL[T] COMES (= Count Thibaut), Cross, pellets in two quadrants, alpha and omega in other quadrants.
Rev: (beginning at 9 o'clock) CASTRI P[VVI]NS (=Chateau/Castle Provins), Wool comb; T on V flanked by two annulets.
The field (champ) and comb (peigne) on the reverse is a visual pun on the name of the region.
Provins was home to two of the six Champagne and Brie fairs, which were the keys to its prosperity. The May Fair began on the Tuesday before Ascension and ran for 46 days, and the Fair of St. Ayoul began on the Exaltation of the Cross (September 14).
Thibaut II of Champagne and Thibaut IV of Blois was born about 1090 and died January 10, 1152. He was Count of Blois, Chartres, Meaux, Châteaudun lord of Sancerre between 1102 and 1152 and Count of Troyes and Champagne between 1125 and 1152.Stkp
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France (feudal): Fulk V (1109-29) and Geoffrey V le Bel/Plantagenet (1129-51), Counts of Anjou13 viewsBoudeau 153, Poey d'Avant 1506, Duplessy 376, cf. Roberts 4115
Billon denier; Angers mint; 1.06 g., 19.48 mm. max., 0â–«
Obv: + FVICO COMES, cross
Rev: + VRBS AN[DEG]AVS [legend starts at 6 o'clock], monogram of Fulk.
Fulk V, known as the Younger, became the Count of Anjou in 1109 upon the death of his father, Fulk IV (1068-1109). The next year, he married Ermengarde of Maine, cementing Angevin control over the County of Maine. Fulk went on crusade in 1119/20. In 1129, upon his second marriage to Melisende, daughter and heir of King Baldwin II of Jerusalem (1118-1131), he renounced his countship in favor of his son, Geoffrey V le Bel (the Handsome). In 1131 Fulk became King of Jerusalem, and remained king until his death in 1143.
Geoffrey became Count of Anjou, Touraine and Maine by inheritance at age sixteen in 1129. One year earlier, he married the Empress Matilda, daughter and heiress of King Henry I of England (1100-1135). Their son succeeded to the English throne as King Henry II (1154-1189) and was the first king of the Plantagenet dynasty. Geoffrey had received the nickname Plantagenet from the yellow sprig of broom blossom (genêt is the French name for the planta genista, or broom shrub) he wore in his hat.Stkp
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France (feudal): Duchy of Burgundy; Hugues/Hugh III (1162-1192) and Hugues/Hugh IV (1218-1272)13 viewsBoudeau 1211; Poey d’Avant 5677 var., plate XXXI No. 12; Roberts 4533-34 var.
AR denier; Dijon mint; .89 g., 17.75 mm. max., 270°
Obv: + VGO D[V]X BVRG:DIE (three vertical pellets between G and D), pellet above two billettes, annulet below.
Rev: + DIVIONENSIS (=Dijon) (first S retrograde), cross.Stkp
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France (Feudal): County of La Marche. Hugh X de Lusignan (1208-1249)11 viewsBoudeau 437, Poey d'Avant 2609-2613, probably 2612, Duplessey 960, Roberts __
AR denier, Montreuil-Bonnin or Bellac mint; .87 g., 19.47 mm. max, 0°
Obv: + VGO COMES, cross pattée
Rev: + MAR[C]HIE, crosslet surrounded by two crescents and two annulets, within inner border.
Hugh’s father, Hugh IX of Lusignan was betrothed to marry 12-year-old Isabel of Angoulême in 1200, when King John of England married her instead. This resulted in the entire de Lusignan family rebelling against the English king. Instead, Hugh’s father married Hugh’s mother, Agathe de Preuilly. Following King John's death in 1216, Queen Isabella returned to France, where she married Hugh on May 10, 1220.Stkp
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France (Feudal): County of Melgueil (Languedoc), Bishops of Maguelonne (ca. 1080-1120)10 viewsRoberts 4336 var. (central pellet), Boudeau 753 var. (same), Poey d'Avant 3842 var. (same) cf. LIIIV, 17
AR denier, Narbonne mint, .94 g., 18.44 mm. max., 270°
Obv: RAMVNDS (=Raymond; degenerate legend), cross formed from a fasces and bishop's mitres, pellet in upper left quarter.
Rev: NAIDONA (=Narbonne; degenerate legend), four annulets.
The obverse legend refers to Raymond, the first bishop who first issued these coins. The three large bars at 3 o'clock are the "M", the "o" at 8 o'clock is the "D,". and the other letters correspond accordingly. The fasces is a symbol of Rome, and the mitres symbolize the ecclesiastical authority of the bishop, whose ultimate authority resides in Rome.Stkp
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France (Feudal): Vienne, Archbishopric, 11th and 12th Centuries10 viewsRoberts 5045, Poey d'Avant 4828 Plate CVI/17, Boudeau 1046.
Billon denier, Vienne mint, ca. 1200-1250: .82 g. 17.35 mm. max., 270
Obv.: + S • M • VIENNA • (= Saint Maurice of Vienne), bearded head of St. Maurice left.
Rev.: MAXIMA GALL (= Greater Gaul), cross with pellets.
Vienne was the first bishopric of Gaul, occupied by the legendary St. Crescens. The bishops became archbishops around 450 A.D. Its archbishops and those of Lyon disputed the title of "Primate of All the Gauls" based on the dates of founding of the cities compared to the dates of founding of the bishoprics.Stkp
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France (Feudal): Marquisate of Provence. Raymond VI (1156-1222)9 viewsRoberts 4356, Boudeau 785, Poey d'Avant 3723 LXXXI, 17, Duplessy 1604A
AR denier, Pont-de-Sorgues mint, struck 1200-1220; 74 g., 16.59 mm. max., 0°
Obv: + R • COMES (=Raymond, count; beginning at 6 o'clock), sun between two pellets, crescent moon below.
Rev: D-V-X-M (=Duke, marquis), Toulouse cross dividing legend.
To accommodate the longstanding claims of the count of Toulouse, in 1125 Provence was divided along the Durance River. Lands north of the river constituted the Marquisate of Provence, ruled by Toulouse, and south of the river was the county proper, ruled by the House of Barcelona. Raymond VI (1156-1222) was Count of Toulouse, Duke of Narbonne, Marquis of Provence, Count of Quercy and Albi.Stkp
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