Charles IV inherited the throne in 1322 under immediate monetary pressure — his predecessors had so thoroughly debased the coinage that public confidence in royal money had nearly collapsed. His reign saw repeated attempts to reform and stabilize the billon issues, with the Double parisis sitting awkwardly between a restored standard and the fiscal realities of a crown perpetually short of silver. The .479 fine alloy reflects exactly that compromise.
Charles died in 1328 leaving no male heir, extinguishing the direct Capetian line and triggering the succession dispute that eventually ignited the Hundred Years' War.
Charles IV inherited the throne in 1322 under immediate monetary pressure — his predecessors had so thoroughly debased the coinage that public confidence in royal money had nearly collapsed. His reign saw repeated attempts to reform and stabilize the billon issues, with the Double parisis sitting awkwardly between a restored standard and the fiscal realities of a crown perpetually short of silver. The .479 fine alloy reflects exactly that compromise.
Charles died in 1328 leaving no male heir, extinguishing the direct Capetian line and triggering the succession dispute that eventually ignited the Hundred Years' War.