Catalogue
| Émetteur | Arches-Charleville, Principality of |
|---|---|
| Année | 1638-1642 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Valeur | 2 Deniers (1⁄120) |
| Devise | Livre |
| Composition | Copper |
| Poids | 2.5 g |
| Diamètre | 20 mm |
| Épaisseur | |
| Forme | Round |
| Technique | |
| Orientation | Coin alignment ↑↓ |
| Graveur(s) | |
| En circulation jusqu’à | |
| Référence(s) | CGKL#628 |
| Description de l’avers | Bust facing right. Beginning of legend at 12 o`clock, smooth circle. |
|---|---|
| Écriture de l’avers | Latin |
| Légende de l’avers |
★CHARLES.II.DVC.D.MANT.S.DAR (Translation: Charles II, Duke of Mantova, Sovereign of Arches.) |
| Description du revers | In the field three lilies. Start of legend at 12 o`clock. Double circle divided by eight pellets. |
| Écriture du revers | Latin |
| Légende du revers | + DOVBLE.D.LA.SOV.DAR.1640 |
| Tranche | Smooth. |
| Atelier | |
| Tirage |
1638 - (fr) b - 1639 - (fr) a - 1639 - (fr) b - 1640 - (fr) a - 1640 - (fr) b - 1640 - (fr) c - 1641 - (fr) a - 1641 - (fr) b - 1642 - (fr) a - |
| ID Numisquare | 1142114670 |
| Informations supplémentaires |
Historical Context: This Double Tournois, the 21st type of Charles II, was issued by the Principality of Arches-Charleville between 1638 and 1642. Charles II Gonzaga, a minor, ruled as Prince, though regents often held real power. Strategically located on the Meuse, Charleville, founded by Charles I Gonzaga, asserted its semi-independent status through coinage. This issue reflects the principality's assertion of economic sovereignty amidst the broader conflicts of the Thirty Years' War, a time of significant political and financial instability across Europe.
Artistry: The engraver for this type remains anonymous, common for provincial copper coinage of the era. Stylistically, it exhibits a simplified, utilitarian approach typical of the Double Tournois, with a faint echo of contemporary Baroque in its portraiture. The obverse typically features a laureate bust of Charles II, often facing right, encircled by his titulature. The reverse commonly displays three fleurs-de-lis beneath a crown, with the principality's name and the date, signifying the issuer's authority.
Technical/Grading: As a 2.5-gram, 20-millimeter copper issue, this Double Tournois often presents characteristic minting imperfections. High-points prone to wear include the hair and laurel wreath on the obverse bust, and the upper petals of the fleurs-de-lis and the crown on the reverse. Strike quality is frequently inconsistent, with weak areas, off-center strikes, and planchet irregularities like laminations or rough surfaces common. Given its copper composition, environmental factors such as corrosion can significantly impact preservation and overall grade.