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Teston - Francis I 14th type
| Issuer | Monnaies royales de France |
|---|---|
| Year | 1540-1547 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Right-facing armored bust of King François I, bearded and cuirassed, crowned with a radiated fleur-de-lis crown. The effigy is rendered in the late Gothic portrait style characteristic of French royal coinage of the 1540s. A circular Latin legend surrounds the bust, beginning with the mint workshop mark in parentheses. The king's features are stylized yet individualized, consistent with the established portrait type of the 14th teston issue. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse lettering | + NO: NOBIS. DNE[.] SED: NOI: TVO A. GLORIA. |
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| Additional information |
The 14th type Teston of Francis I belongs to the final phase of his reign, years consumed by the Habsburg-Valois wars and the chronic financial strain they imposed on the French treasury. The teston itself had been introduced under Louis XII precisely to give France a large silver coin competitive with the proliferating German talers and Italian testoni circulating across Europe.
Duplessy 908 is among the more frequently encountered of the Francis I teston varieties, though die-to-die variation in the mint marks across the numerous active ateliers means attribution can require close attention to the monetary letter.