French Coins
Some coins from the French kings Louis XI and Francis I
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Some French coins from various kings.
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French monetary units at the time:
The monetary units at the time were variable.
The "Livre Tournois" or "Tours Pound" was a unit of measurement and sometimes an actual coin. The "Denier Tournois" or denier was sometimes a small coin and sometimes not minted. The livre tournois was worth 240 deniers. The double tournois was a copper coin worth two deniers. The sol or gros was a silver coin worth 12 deniers and the blanc or douzain was a silver coin worth 10 deniers. The livre tournois was worth 2 testons, 20 sols, 20 gros, 24 blancs, 24 douzains, and 240 deniers. The gros was also knowm as a groschen or groat. The gold "Ecu" or "Crown" was worth 1-2/3 livre tournois and weighed around 3.33 grams. |
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Louis XI:
France's King Louis XI was born in 1423. His reign lasted 20 years from 1461 to 1483.
He became known as the "Spider King" or "The Prudent."
1. France Louis XI Medal - Kings of France
Copper-nickel, 34.0 mm, 21.10 gm
Louis XI right LOUIS XI ROY DE FRANCE 55 / NE 1423 / SUCCEDE 1461 INSTITUTION DE L'ORDRE / DE SAINT MICHEL 1462 / MORT 1483 / TROISIEME RACE / P (The Troisieme Race is the Third Race or the Capetian dynasty)
A medal like this one is listed in:
"Spink & Son's Numismatic Circular, Catalogue of Coins and Medals for Sale", December 1895,
under "List of French Medalets of Kings by Petit and Caque", Page 1492, item 29005, Louis XI.
2. France Louis XI Ecu d'Or
Gold, 27.0 mm, 3.34 gm, Perpignan Mint
Shield with three fleur-de-lis on it and crown above ✠LVDOVICVS DEI GRA FRANCOR REX Double quadrilobe, fleur-de-lis cross with four crowns ✠XPS VINCIT XPS REGNAT XPS IMPERAT (Christ conquers, Christ reigns, Christ commands) Mintmark 'P' in center (Perpignan Mint) 3. France Louis XI Gros de Roi
Silver, 30.0 mm, 3.27 gm, Lyon Mint
Three fleur-de-lis ✠LVDOVICVS DEIGRA FRANCR REX [Clover](Mintmark: Lyon) Fleur-de-lis cross ✠SIT NOMEN DOMINI BENEDICTVM [Clover](Mintmark: Lyon) 4. France Louis XI Blanc a la Couronne
Silver, 26.0 mm, 2.54 gm, Lyon Mint
Double trilobe, shield with three fleur-de-lis on it and trilobe ✠LVDOVICVS FRANCORVM REX [Clover](Mintmark: Lyon) Double quadrilobe, fleur-de-lis cross with two fleur-de-lis and two crowns at corners ✠SIT NOMEN DNI BENEDICTVM [Clover](Mintmark: Lyon) |
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Francis I (François I):
France's King Francis I was born in 1494. His reign lasted 32 years from 1515 to 1547.
5. France Francis I Medal - Kings of France
Copper-nickel, 34.0 mm, 21.10 gm
Francis I right FRANCOIS I ROY DE FRANCE 38 / NÉ 1494 / SUCCEDE 1515 RETABLISSEMENT DES SCIENCES ET DES BEAUX ARTS / MORT 1547 / TROISIEME RACE / P (The Troisieme Race is the Third Race or the Capetian dynasty)
A medal like this one is listed in:
"Spink & Son's Numismatic Circular, Catalogue of Coins and Medals for Sale", December 1895,
under "List of French Medalets of Kings by Petit and Caque", Page 1492, item 29007, Francis I.
6. France Francis I Ecu d'Or
Gold, 26.0 mm, 3.45 gm, Lyon Mint
Shield with three fleur-de-lis on it and crown above ✠FRANCISCVS DEI GRA FRANCORVM REX Dot under the 'D' of "DEI" (Mintmark: Lyon) Cross with fleur-de-lis at ends, two letter 'F's and two lilies ✠XPS VINCIT XPS REGNAT XPS IMPERAT (Christ conquers, Christ reigns, Christ commands) 7. France Francis I Blanc a la Couronne
Silver, 25.0 mm, 2.31 gm, Bordeaux Mint
Double trilobe, shield with three fleur-de-lis and three crowns ✠FRANCISCVS FRANCORVM REX Double quadrilobe, fleur-de-lis cross with two fleur-de-lis and two crowns ✠SIT NOMEN DNI BENEDICT[VM] K(Mintmark: Bordeaux) 8. France Francis I Blanc a la Couronne
Silver, 27.0 mm, 2.32 gm, Toulouse Mint
Double trilobe, shield with three fleur-de-lis and three crowns ✠FRANCISCVS FRANCORVM REX C: Double quadrilobe, fleur-de-lis cross with two fleur-de-lis and two crowns ✠SIT NOMEN DNI BENEDICTVM C: Dot under the 'O' of "NOMEN" (Mintmark: Toulouse) 9. France Francis I Grand Blanc
Silver, 25.0 mm, 1.89 gm, Bordeaux Mint
Double trilobe, shield with three fleur-de-lis and three crowns ✠FRANCISCVS FRANCORVM REX [ship]K (Mintmark: Bordeaux) Double quadrilobe, fleur-de-lis cross with two fleur-de-lis and two crowns ✠SIT NOMEN DNI BENEDICTVM 10. France Francis I Grand Blanc
Silver, 25.0 mm, 1.89 gm, Marseille Mint
Double trilobe, shield with three fleur-de-lis and three crowns FRANCISCVS FRANCORVM REX Point at bottom of shield (Mintmark: Marseille) Double quadrilobe, fleur-de-lis cross with two fleur-de-lis and two crowns SIT NOMEN DNI BENEDICTVM 11. France Francis I Douzain
Silver, 27.0 mm, 2.39 gm, Lyon Mint
Double trilobe, shield with three fleur-de-lis and three crowns, 'D' at bottom ✠FRANCISCVS D. GRA FRANCOR REX F[Clover](Mintmark: Lyon) Double quadrilobe, fleur-de-lis cross with two fleur-de-lis and two crowns ✠SIT NOMEN DNI BENEDICTVM F[Clover](Mintmark: Lyon) 12. France Francis I Teston
Silver, 30.0 mm, 9.16 gm, Lyon Mint
Crowned bust right ✠ FRANCISCVS DEI GRA: FRANCORVM REX [Clover] (Mintmark: Lyon) (The last word is supposed to be "REX" but looks like "RCONS") Crowned Shield of France and two crowned 'F's NO NOBIS DNE SED NOI TVO DA GLORIA [Clover](Mintmark: Lyon) (Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but to thy name give the glory) |
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Louis XIII:
France's King Louis XIII was born in 1601. His reign lasted 33 years from 1610 to 1643.
13. France Louis XIII Double Tournois 1641
Copper, 20.0 mm, 2.06 gm
Louis XIII facing left LVD.XIII.D.G.F.ET.NA.REX (Louis XIII Dei Gratia France and Navarre King) Three fleur-de-lis ✠ DOVBLE TOVRNOIS 1641 |
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