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Teston - Henry II 1st type
| Issuer | Monnaie royale de France |
|---|---|
| Year | 1552-1559 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 1 Teston (1/2 LT) |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Log in to see details |
| Technique | Log in to see details |
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| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Crowned royal shield of France (semé of fleurs-de-lis) displayed centrally, flanked on either side by a crowned capital letter H. The mint letter appears at the base point of the shield. The Christus vincit legend in Latin encircles the design, concluding with the date (millesime). |
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| Additional information |
The teston was France's first large silver coin struck to a consistent royal standard, introduced under Louis XII and carried through successive reigns as the primary high-value silver denomination. Henry II's first-type teston falls within the period of his aggressive Italian campaigns and the sustained fiscal pressure of the Habsburg-Valois wars — a conflict that drained silver reserves and pushed minting output across multiple provincial workshops simultaneously. The Dy 983 classification encompasses production from several mints operating under delegated royal authority.
Strike quality varies considerably by mint, with provincial issues from Tours and Bordeaux frequently showing softer detail than Paris output.