1/2 Gold Henri - Henry II 1st type, 3rd bust

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.