I was hoping someone could tell me when the Orleans mint opened. Family history says an ancestor of mine Michel Rozier was the Marshal of the Minters of the Orleans Mint. He died in 1729. I couldn't find any reference to a mint that early there, but my resorces are rather meager. Would the Marshals be on a list somewhere? Any help would be much appreciated.
Coins in Orleans, France were minted from early medieval ages, I know of coins struck there in about 600 AD. In New Orleans, USA the mint opened in 1835 or so.
I meant Orleans France. Of course I knew there was a mint in Carolingian times, but I am not sure there was one in the early 18th century.
If he was, I can find no record of it. The Orleans mint opened in 1718 and closed in 1791. The first Director was Guillaume Benoist, the first Chief Engraver was Jean-Louis Guiquero. Both held their posts until 1735. Are you sure of the name and the spelling ?
Yes fairly sure. Of course at that time spelling wasn't an exact sience. The other most likely possibility would be Rosier, which was a common name in France. All our records are fairly consistent as Rozier. Thanks for the info, I wasn't surprised to be wrong as most family histories seem to be wrong.
Well it may not be wrong. Personally I have never of the title Marshal of the Minters - but then I'm no expert on French coinage. I do collect French coinage from this period and I have quite a few books on the subject. I have the names and dates for the directors & chief engravers back to the reign of Louis Capet, but there were several other posts at the mints, perhaps your ancestor held one of those positions. I also did a rather extensive internet search and can find no mention of that name for the time period. If you wish, I have the email address of a very knowledgeable person in France - one I would consider an expert. if you would like to contact him to further your research, please contact me privately by email or PM. Just click on my name anywhere on the forum to do this.
