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Liard - Charles III flowered cross
| Issuer | Lorraine, Duchy of |
|---|---|
| Year | 1545-1608 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Orientation | Variable alignment ↺ |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | A floriated or flowered Latin cross with hollow voided arms, each terminal expanding into decorative floral or trefoil ends, occupying the central field. The cross is set within a circular border enclosing the circumferential legend. The overall design is typical of small hammered billon denominations struck in Lorraine during the reign of Charles III. |
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| Reverse lettering | MONETA.NOVA.NANCEI (Translation: New coinage of Nancy.) |
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| Additional information |
Charles III inherited the Duchy of Lorraine at age two in 1545, ruling under regency until 1559 — meaning a substantial portion of this issue's production span predates any personal authority on his part. Lorraine's billon coinage of this period occupied an awkward monetary position, circulating alongside both French and Imperial coinages without full acceptance in either sphere. The duchy's insistence on maintaining its own mint was as much a political statement of independence from France as it was an economic necessity.
The long production run spanning over six decades accounts for considerable variation in billon quality, with later strikes notably debased relative to earlier ones.