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1/2 Gold Henri - Henry II 1st type, 3rd bust
| Issuer | France |
|---|---|
| Year | 1550-1559 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Livre tournois (987-1795) |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | Central cross formed by four interlaced crowned 'H' monograms, with the mint letter 'B' at the center. Two crescents and two fleurs-de-lis occupy the four angles of the cross, with a small fleur-de-lis ornament surmounting the uppermost 'H'. The whole is enclosed within a beaded inner border, surrounded by the encircling Latin motto legend with the date, struck in hammered technique characteristic of mid-sixteenth century French royal coinage. |
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| Additional information |
The demi-henri d'or was introduced under Henry II as part of a broader monetary reform that restructured French gold coinage away from the older écu system. The third bust variety reflects an updated portrait punch introduced mid-reign at one or more of the provincial mints — the specific issuing atelier determines a significant portion of this type's value and scarcity, as output varied enormously between Paris and the peripheral workshops.
Ciani offers no listing for this piece, which itself speaks to the documentary gaps still unresolved in mid-16th century French hammered gold.