This is the latest addition to my historical figures collection. It is a coin of Charles VII. What attracted me to this coin was the Dolphin with large pointy teeth. The diameter is 20.24 mm, the weight is 1.20 gr. Please post your French or other mediaeval coins.
What a fantastic design! That funny, almost cartoonish, sharkey-looking dolphin is simply marvelous! I had never seen one of these before. Had to squint a wee bit to see the dolphin. Wonderful! Thanks for posting it. I want to see more of this "historical figures" collection, too. Since everyone is probably familiar with and/or sick of my "Box of 20" coins by now (that's the problem with having such a small collection), I will go into my "bygones" to post one that might've not been seen, though I did post it over on CU. It is both French and medieval, as requested. I liked how clear the legends are on this one. Normally I can't read the lettering on medievals very well. Plus it's got that great "Hand of God" coming out of the sky and a whimsical, haloed St. Stephen. They named a cathedral in Metz after him. FRANCE, Metz. Civic issue. 14th-16th century. AR Gros (3.01 gm) Boudeau 1659; Saurma 1896/927; Roberts 8932. Toned, good VF.
someone else posted on of these "scary dolphin" coin recently...if i remember it was on the coat of arms for a region of france?
@chrsmat71 From wikipedia: The Dauphin of France (pronunciation: /ˈdɔːfᵻn/, also UK /ˈdoʊfæn/ and US /doʊˈfæn/; French: Dauphin de France, IPA: [dofɛ̃])—strictly The Dauphin of Viennois (Dauphin de Viennois)—was the title given to the heir apparent to the throne of France from 1350 to 1791 and 1824 to 1830. Here is the coat of arms for the Dauphin.
Lovely coin Orfew! That is certainly an interesting design. My medieval French coins are a little more plain... here's one I don't think I've posted before: French Feudal, Champagne Henry I or II, r. 1152-81 or 1181-97 Troyes Mint, AR Denier, 20.52 mm x 0.9 grams Obv.: +HENRI COMES, Cross Pattee with annulet in 2nd and 4th quadrants Rev.: +TRECAS CIVITAS, cross monogram (I suspect the monogram is suppose to be for Theobald who was the previous count of Champagne, but I have not been able to varify this)
You can still find the dolphin on the CoA's from that area (Dauphiné) these days. The départements Drôme, Hautes-Alpes, Isère all use it. Without any teeth though. Christian
Sure it was ! Francois I° (1515-1547) - Teston du Dauphiné deuxieme type Atelier de Romans (point secret sous la deuxième lettre, R couronnée au revers) + (triangle) FRANCISCVS.DEI.GRA.FRANCOR.REX (triangle) buste cuirassé et couronné a droite + (triangle) SIT.NOMEN.DNI.BENEDICTVM.R.(Mm) (triangle). Ecu ecartelé de France et Dauphiné. Grande F sur l'ecartelé (après le 8 octobre 1528, date à laquelle une lettre F brochant sur l'écartelé fut ajoutée sur les testons (source CGB VSO 09/1067)) 9,25 gr - 26/29 mm Ref : Ciani # 1141v That dolphin is terrific @Orfew ! And I can't restrain myself from posting (again) my Charles VII ecu even though it's dolphinless : Charles VII (1422-1461) - Ecu d'or 3° emission de 1424, atelier de Toulouse (annelet sous la cinquieme lettre) Croisette sur etoile initiale, KAROLVS : DEI : GRATIA : FRANCORVM : REX, Ecu de France couronné + XPC : VINCIT : XPC : REGNAT : XPC : IMPERAT, croix arquée, evidée et fleudelisée, cantonnée de quatre coronelles 3.76 gr, 28 mm Ref : Ciani # 617 Q
@Cucumbor Wow, what wonderful coins. The nose on that Francois I is magnificent. The Ecu is exceptionally well struck with lots of great detail.
Great coin, now I want to get one later. Assume you got it after I mentioned his ties to Joan of Arc in your other thread? My Charles VII Charles VII le Victorieux, (1422 - 1461 A.D.) AR Blanc à la Couronne O: +KAROLVS FRANCORVM REX (castle), royal coat-of-arms within in trilobe; three crowns around; O pointed; annulet under sixth letter. R: +SIT:NOME : DNI:BENEDIC:TV (castle), cross pattée with crowns and lis in opposing quarters; all within quadrilobe; O pointed; annulet under sixth letter. 25mm 2.53g Duplessy 519A; Ciani
@Mat Yes indeed. That post was the inspiration behind this purchase. Thanks! BTW Numiscorner has one available.
I have just a very few french mediaeval coins, an Ecu d'or of Charles VII, and a Demi Ecu of Charles IX. I also have a penny for Richard the Lionhearted ( Coeur de Lion). Richard was King of England but spent much of his time in France and also carried the titles of Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine and Duke of Gascony. https://www.cointalk.com/threads/richard-i-the-lionhearted-coeur-de-lion.106564/#post-881766 France. ½ Ecu d'or, 1566-B (Rouen). Fr-379; Ciani-1349. 1.6 grams. Charles IX, 1560-1574. Crowned arms. Reverse: Floriated cross. Uneven flan. Fine.
that's it Q! i couldn't remember who it was off the top of my head that cool scary dolphin coin recently!
Beautiful 1/2 Ecu @Eduard Richard I and his brother John are also on my list of historical figures to acquire.
Your denier is most likely minted under Henri II at Troyes, most likely before his departure for the Holy Land, around 1185-1189. According to Poey d'Avant what differentiates between the deniers of Henri I and Henri II is the shape of the monogram: on Henri I deniers the monogram is that of Thibaut (supposed to read TEBO), while on those of Henri II the O of TEBO in the monogram is replaced by either an upside-down crescent (like it seems to be the case w/ your coin) or an asterix or two. In Poey d'Avant's catalog it's recorded at #5951, p. 247. It's also recorded by Boudeau in his Catalogue Général Illustré de Monnaies Provinciales at #1746