Francis I reformed the denier tournois in 1540–41 as part of a broader monetary ordinance aimed at stabilizing petty coinage that had been debased and counterfeited extensively across the kingdom. The billon content was so low by this point — barely distinguishable from copper — that contemporary merchants routinely refused them at face value, and royal edicts had to mandate their acceptance under penalty.
Dy royales 936 is among the scarcer of the Francis I petty issues; the short effective circulation window before the next monetary reform accounts for most surviving examples showing minimal wear.
Francis I reformed the denier tournois in 1540–41 as part of a broader monetary ordinance aimed at stabilizing petty coinage that had been debased and counterfeited extensively across the kingdom. The billon content was so low by this point — barely distinguishable from copper — that contemporary merchants routinely refused them at face value, and royal edicts had to mandate their acceptance under penalty.
Dy royales 936 is among the scarcer of the Francis I petty issues; the short effective circulation window before the next monetary reform accounts for most surviving examples showing minimal wear.