The Ligue coinage — issued by the Catholic League during its open war against Henri III and subsequently Henri IV — represents one of the most politically charged minting episodes in French history. After Henri III's assassination in August 1589, the League refused to recognize the Huguenot Henri de Navarre as king, instead backing the elderly Cardinal Charles de Bourbon as "Charles X." These coins were struck in his name despite the man himself being a prisoner of Henri IV at the time, held at Chinon.
Charles de Bourbon died in captivity in May 1590, making this issue's production window extremely narrow.
The Ligue coinage — issued by the Catholic League during its open war against Henri III and subsequently Henri IV — represents one of the most politically charged minting episodes in French history. After Henri III's assassination in August 1589, the League refused to recognize the Huguenot Henri de Navarre as king, instead backing the elderly Cardinal Charles de Bourbon as "Charles X." These coins were struck in his name despite the man himself being a prisoner of Henri IV at the time, held at Chinon.
Charles de Bourbon died in captivity in May 1590, making this issue's production window extremely narrow.