a ustria

extremely rare laureate and draped bust to right; mintmark below / ARCH • AVST • D

Austria, Holy Roman Empire. Joseph II AV 4 Ducats. Vienna mint, 1786. IOSEPH • II

BVRG

LOTH

HET

(date) •, double-headed imperial eagle; denomination below. Herinek 2; Friedberg 433; KM 1881; Macho & Chlapovič 21, 381 (hammer: EUR 65,000); Rauch 105, 1784 (hammer: EUR 56,000). 13.92g, 40mm, 12h.

Near Extremely Fine; areas of matte surface, possibly indicating smoothing. Extremely Rare; one of fewer than ten examples to come auction in the past decade, among the most desirable issues for connoisseurs of Austrian coinage.

Chile

Chile, Spanish Colonial. Charles IV AV 8 Escudos. Santiago mint, 1797NI DA. CAROL

IIII

ET IND armoured and draped bust of Charles III to right; date between pellets below / IN

UTROQ

FELIX

AUSPICE

DEO, crowned coat-of-arms of Spain within Collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece; denomination across inner fields; mintmarks below. AC 1762; KM 54; Friedberg 23; Numista 35203. 26.95g, 36mm, 12h.

Near Extremely Fine; light marks, lustrous metal.

Acquired from Aix Enchères Art, 28 October 2007.

Crusader s tates

947.

Crusader States, Cyprus (Lusignan Kingdom). Henry II and Amaury II (prince of Tyre, usurper) AR Gros. 1306-1310. ✠ hЄNRIC’IRLᙏ E CIPRI RЄX, cross of Jerusalem / ✠ AᙏALRIC GVBNATOR CIPRI, lion rampant to left. M&P 6-12; CCS 42; Metcalf, Crusaders p. 202; Numista 139740; Elsen very rare

150, 337 (hammer: 2,200 EUR). 4.47g, 25mm, 3h.

Good Very Fine; ex-mount, pierced, wonderful deep old cabinet tone. Very Rare.

From a private European collection.

600

948.

Crusader States, Cyprus (Lusignan Kingdom). Amaury II (prince of Tyre, usurper) AR Gros. Famagusta mint, 1310. : CIPRI GuB’ꞂATO’ Є’ RЄTOR an extremely rare Gros of james ii

✠ AᙏALRIC’ TIRЄꞂSIS DOᙏIꞂUS in two rings around crowned lion rampant to left / ✠ IRL’ᙏ: ET: CIPTI: REGIS FILIUS, coat-of-arms of Cyprus and of Jerusalem in a shield, tendrils around. M&P 7 (dies A-c); CCS 46; Metcalf, Crusaders 673; Numista 124644. 3.40g, 25mm, 3h.

Very Fine; pleasant old cabinet tone. Very Rare; particularly with this mint and reversed rev. legend, which is noted only in M&P.

From a private European collection.

Crusader States, Cyprus (Lusignan Kingdom). James II AR Gros. 1460-1473. IA COBO DEI G, king riding to right, holding sword / R IЄRVSALЄM CIPRI ЄT A, cross of Jerusalem. M&P type E; CCS 159; Metcalf, Crusaders 806; Numista 125171; Elsen 150, 525 (hammer: 14,000 EUR). 3.06g, 25mm, 6h.

Near Extremely Fine; beautiful old cabinet tone. Extremely Rare.

From a private European collection.

the only example Graded by nGC

Denmark, Kingdom. Frederik III AR 1 Speciedaler. Copenhagen (Den Kongelige Mønt) mint, 1668. FRIDER • III • D • G • DAN • NOR • VAN • GOT • REX •, laureate and armoured bust to right, wearing chain with Order of the Elephant / DVX • SLES • HOL • STOR DITM • COM OLD & DELM, crown of Denmark above arms of Sweden, Denmark and Norway within chain of the Order of the Elephant; 15 shields of the provinces of the Kingdom of Denmark around; all superimposed on cross with long arms. KM 301; Davenport 3560.

NGC graded MS 64 (#2117149-005). The only (and therefore top) example graded by NGC, but in any case superior to all others present on CoinArchives. Wonderful old cabinet tone with iridescent highlights.

Acquired from Heritage World Coin Auctions.

Frederick III succeeded in converting Denmark from an elective monarchy into an absolute hereditary monarchy in 1660 following his defence of the city of Copenhagen against the invasion of Charles X of Sweden in 1658.

Fran C e

France, Anjou et Maine (Counties). Charles III de Valois AR Denier. Le Mans mint, 1290-1317. ✠ ᙏOꞂЄTΛ : CЄꞂOᙏ, crown, lis below / ✠ SIGꞂVᙏ : DЄI : VIVI, cross pattée; lis and trefoil in alternating quarters. Boudeau 179; for similar issues cf. Duplessy, Féodales 405-6; Poey d’Avant pl. 30, 15 and 17. 1.17g, 21mm, 7h.

Near Extremely Fine; attractive cabinet tone. Rare.

Acquired from Beaussant Lefèvre, Paris.

Extraordinarily Rare

France, Besançon (Free imperial city) AV 3 Pistoles. In the name of Charles V. 1666. CAROLVS QVINT • ★ ROM • IMPERATOR, crowned and armoured full-length figure of Charles, holding orb and sceptre, date across fields / MONETA • CIVIT. IMPER • BISVNTINÆ, crowned double headed imperial eagle with shield of city arms on chest. KM 56 (German States, 2 Pistole); Friedberg 75a (2 Pistoles); Numista 124368 (4 Pistoles). 18.62g, 31mm, 6h.

Near Extremely Fine. Extraordinarily Rare.

From the collection of GK; Ex Áureo & Calicó, Auction 302, 14 December 2017, lot 723; Ex Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co. KG, Auction 285, 2 February 2017, lot 44.

6,000

This extraordinarily rare coin is described in the Standard Catalogue of World Coins (2018) and by Friedberg as unique. Although this is known to no longer be the case, it is a testament to the extreme paucity of surviving specimens.

The standard references for this type erroneously describe the denomination as either 2 or 4 pistoles. Based on the basic weight standard of a single pistole of around 6.50g, at 18.62g this coin can only represent 3 pistoles.

France, Maine (County). Herbert I ‘le Éveillé-Chien’ (Wakedog) AR Denier. Le Mans mint, 1015-1035. ✠ COMES CENOMANIS, Erbertus monogram / ✠ SIGNVM DEI VIVI, cross pattée with pellets in first and second quarters, Λ and Ѡ in third and fourth. Duplessy, Féodales 398; Legros 572 var. (unbarred A); Poey d’Avant 1588; Boudeau 170. 1.28g, 20mm, 10h.

Good Very Fine.

Acquired from Beaussant Lefèvre, Paris.

the Finest example in the past 20 years

France, Kingdom. Philippe IV AV Masse d’Or. First Emission, 1296. ✠ PHILIPPVS: DEI: GRA: FRANCHORVM: REX, king enthroned facing on lion head throne, holding lis-tipped sceptre in right hand and lis in left / ✠ XP’C: VINCIT: XP’C: REGNAT: XP’C: IMPERAT, cross fleurée within quadrilobe; fleur-de-lis in each quarter. Duplessy 208; Friedberg 254; Numista 129313. 6.94g, 31mm, 11h.

Good Extremely Fine. Rare, and arguably superior in terms of both style and quality of strike to all other examples present on CoinArchives. Ex Fernand David (1861-1927) Collection.

15,000

The reign of Philip IV of France was marred by several expensive wars, which caused significant financial difficulty for the monarch, characterised by rising deficits, debasement of the currency and emergency taxation. The circumstances of Philip’s ascension to the throne had initially seemed to be auspicious; through his marriage to Joan I of Navarre in 1284 he had also become king of Navarre and had annexed her inherited lands of Champagne and Brie. Primarily as a result of the trade fairs known as the ‘Champagne Fairs’, which were centres of European mercantile exchange at the time, Champagne was a particularly wealthy province and was therefore a significant financial asset for Philip, boosting the income of the royal demesne when he became king. Although not financially profitable, the Kingdom of Navarre was also a worthwhile territory to have gained through his marriage, as it was strategically important both geographically and politically. This advantageous political landscape may go some way to explain how Philip was able to produce gold denominations en masse for the first time in the history of the coinage of the Kingdom of France (gold coins only having been previously minted in very small numbers by Louis IX), of which this coin is an exceptional example.

Due to the increased revenues, Philip was able to pay off debt that he had inherited from his father ’s wars with Aragon and by 1287 the crown was completely solvent. His good fortune was however not to last and in 1294, after a series of failed negotiations and broken treaties surrounding the English King Edward I’s French lands, war became inevitable and this was ultimately to be the longest ongoing conflict of Philip’s rule. The costly campaigns against England were compounded by ongoing hostilities with Aragon and Flanders, which declared its independence in 1297. The financial buffer that Philip had built-up was rapidly depleted and the remainder of his rule was dominated by a constant need to raise funds.

955.

France, Kingdom. Philippe VI AV Royal d’Or. 1328. PH’S REX FRA COR, king standing facing within gothic arch, holding sceptre / ✠ XP’C VINCIT XP’C REGNAT XP’C IHPERAT, ornate cross fleurée with quatrefoil at center and leaves in quarters; all within quadrilobe with arches ending in trefoils, crown between each lobe. Duplessy 247; Friedberg 271; Numista 329473. 4.16g, 26mm, 7h. Extremely Fine.

Acquired from Editions V. Gadoury.

1,800

France, Kingdom. Charles VI AV Ecu d’Or. 1385-1420. ✠ KAROLVS : DЄI : GRACIA : FRAnCORVM : RЄX, crowned arms of France / ✠ XPC * VIИCIT * XPC * RЄGИAT * XPC * IИPЄRAT, floriated cross within quadrilobe, crown between each lobe. Duplessy 369A; Friedberg 291; Numista 12654. 3.98g, 30mm, 1h.

Good Extremely Fine; well-centered on a splendidly large planchet.

Acquired from Editions V. Gadoury.

France, Kingdom. Charles VI ‘le Bien-Aimé/le Fol’ (the Well-Beloved/the Mad) AV Écu d’or. Mirabel mint, 3rd emission, struck from 11 September 1389. ✠ KAROLVS ⁑ DЄI ⁑ GRACIA ⁑ FRAꞂCORVᙏ ⁑ RЄX, crowned coat-of-arms / ✠ XPC’ ★ VIИCIT ★ XPC’ ★ RЄGИAT ★ XPC’ ★ IИPЄRAT ★, cross fleurdelisée and feuillue, star in centre; all within quadrilobe with lis at end of each arc, crown in spandrels. Cf. Grierson, Coins of Medieval Europe 332 (for type); Duplessy 369B; Friedberg 291. 3.91g, 28mm, 7h.

Extremely Fine.

Ex Trésor de la Guerre de Cent Ans, Beaussant Lefèvre - Thierry Parsy, 30 June 2009, lot 122.

France, Kingdom. Charles VII ‘le Victorieux’ (the Victorious) AV Écu d’or à la couronne. Anger mint, 2nd emission, struck from August 1445. ♕

KAROLVS 8 DЄI 8 GRA 8 FRANCORVᙏ 8 RЄX, crowned coat-of-arms of France flanked by crowned fleur-de-lis / ♕ XPC 8 VINCIT 8 XPC 8

RЄGNAT 8 XPC 8 INPЄRAT, cross feuillue with voided quatrefoil at centre; all within quadrilobe with crowns at points. Duplessy 511A; Friedberg 307. 3.30g, 28mm, 3h.

Near Mint State.

Ex Monnaies d’Antan, Auction 12, 22 November 2012, lot 345.

France, Kingdom. Louis XI le Prudent (the Prudent) AV Écu d’or au soleil. Châlons-en-Champagne mint, struck from 2 November 1475. ♛ LVDOVICVS ⦂ DЄI ⦂ GRΛ ⦂ FRΛNCORV ⦂ RЄX, crowned coat-of-arms, sunburst above; pellet below 21st letter / ♛ XPS ⦂ VIꞂCIT ⦂ XPS ⦂

RЄGꞂΛT ⦂ XPS ⦂ IᙏPЄRΛT, cross fleurdelisée with pellet in quadrilobe at centre; pellet below 21st letter. Duplessy 544; Ciani 745; Lafaurie 529; Friedberg 312. 3.47g, 27mm, 4h.

Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare. Ex GK Collection; Ex MDC Monnaies de Collection sarl, Auction 3, 1 December 2017, lot 393 (hammer: EUR 2,500).

961.

France, Kingdom. Louis XII AV Écu d’or au soleil de Provence. Tarascon mint, struck from 25 April 1498. (crowned lis) LVDOVICVS ⦂ D ⦂ G ⦂

FRΛꞂCO ⦂ RЄX ⦂ PROVIꞂ’ CO ⦂ T ◦ L ◦, crowned coat-of-arms, annulet under 24th letter / (crowned lis) ⚬ XPS ⦂ VIꞂCIT ⦂ XPS ⦂ RЄGꞂΛT ⦂ XPS ⦂ IᙏPЄRΛT ⦂ T ◦ L ◦, cross fleurdelisée with voided quadrilobe, pellet at centre; annulet under 26th letter. Duplessy 653; cf. Ciani 903; Lafaurie 596b. 3.29g, 27mm, 3h.

Extremely Fine. Rare. Ex GK Collection;

962.

France, Kingdom. Francois I AV Ecu d’Or. Bordeaux mint, 19 March 1541. FRANCISCVS: DEI: G: FRANCORVM ♥ REX, crowned arms of France; B below / ✠ XPS: VINCIT: XPS: REGNAT: XPS ♥ IMPERAT:, plain cross with pellet within thirteen-lobed border with floral decorations. Duplessy 889; Friedberg 351; Numista 126405. 3.40g, 25mm, 10h.

Good Extremely Fine.

Ex Fernand David (1861-1927) Collection.

France, Kingdom. Louis XV AV Louis d’or á la croix du Saint-Esprit. Paris mint, 1718. LVD • XV • D • G • FR • ET • NAV • REX • 1718, laureate head to right; mintmarks ⧾ A below / ❀ CHRISTVS REGNAT VINCIT IMPERAT, Maltese cross with roundel at centre containing three fleurs-de-lis. Duplessy 1633; Friedberg 453, Gadoury 336. 9.80g, 25mm, 6h.

Near Mint State; hairline scratches.

Ex GK Collection; Ex WAG Online oHG, Auction 74, 9 April 2017, lot 144 (hammer: 3,200 EUR).