I'll divide the French corpus numismatorum as follows:
1) Greek and Celtic coinage, BCE period
2) Roman coinage, c. 50 BCE - 450 AD
3) Barbarian coinage (including Merovingian), c. 200-751
4) Frankish coinage, 751-987
5) Kingdom of France, houses of Capet & Valois, 987-1589
6) Feudal coinage, c. 900-1700
7) Bourbon coinage, 1589-1792
8) Modern coinage (1789 to date)
9) the extensive exonumia.
GAUL
Little is known of the aboriginal inhabitants of
the large region now known as France. That there was human habitation
as far back as 30,000 years ago is attested by the famous cave paintings
of Lascaux in the Dordogne. Numerous megalithic monuments are dated
provisionally to roughly 2000-1000 BCE. It is theorized that the
Basque people of Northern Spain are descendants of the original inhabitants,
but to date nothing has been proved.
Greek trading stations were established along the
Mediterranean littoral during the 7th century BC. A permanent colony
of settlers from Phokis was established c. 600 BC, and this settlement,
called Massilia, has become today the city of Marseille. At the same
time, or maybe a bit later, Celtic tribes began migrating into the region
from the northeast. Both Greeks and Celts were horse using peoples,
and they quickly overran the horseless aborigines.
The Massilians formed an early alliance with the
Roman Republic, which fact the Romans used later as a pretext to intervene
in Gaul and eventually to overrun and annex the territory. Coins
were struck by Greek Massilia c. 450-200 BC, consisting mainly of small
silver with a few medium coppers toward the end of the run. In my
experience they do not turn up very often. Celtic coins as a class
are far more common.
Celtic coins are provisionally dated from c. 150-50
BC. I say provisionally because there is very little evidence which
can fix their dates, and with many the tribal attribution is conjectural.
Virtually all Celtic types are derived from Greek prototypes, and the extent
of the falling away from classical Greek style, or barbarization, is traditionally
given some weight in establishing provenance and timeline. The coins
exist in gold (often base), silver, copper, and potin (tin-lead alloy).
In terms of what actually shows up in the market the expensive gold is
most common, then expensive silver, then cheap silver, then base metal.
On any day of any week you can find Celtic coins at prices over $200.00,
while anything less than $100.00 tends to get snapped up before it makes
it to a price list. There are often junky small silver coins available.
Sometimes they are so crystallized they come apart in your hands, so that
you will occasionally find a dealer who will sheepishly show you a hoard
of fragments which he bought as coins but which broke on their way to the
holder. These bargain hoards typically disappear immediately, someone
supposing that art and epoxy will salvage something. Disappointment
usually ensues.
One occasionally finds thick little tin "wheels"
called "Gaulish wheel money." These are about 15mm in diameter, 6mm
high, with a pattern of radiating lines, serrated edges and a big center
hole. The last one I saw was about 15 years ago, though I've heard
of one recently. I'm reasonably satisfied that they are what they
say they are, being simultaneously too rare and too cheap ($40 or so) to
make a good subject for a counterfeit.
ROME
When, in the second century BC, the Massilians found
themselves threatened by Celtic advances, they called on Rome for assistance.
The Romans came and stayed. By the start of the first century BC
the Romans had consolidated the pacified territories of southern Gaul,
including Massilia, into the province of Gallia Transalpina. Narbo
Martius (Narbonne) was established as a colonial city in 118 BC and Romanization
proceeded at a rapid pace in the south. The whole of Gaul was brought
under Roman control by Julius Caesar between 58 and 50 BC.
A mint was opened at Narbo shortly after its foundation,
issuing serrate denarii. Evidently the serrati were meant to blend
in with the serrated tin wheels which the Celts had been using. The
Narbo colonials were struck over perhaps a decade by at least six different
moneyers. The mint was then closed until c 85-74 BC, when the General
C. Valerius Flaccus campaigned in Gaul, striking non-serrate denarii to
pay his troops.. Neither the Narbo colonials nor the Flaccus militaries
are standard fare of Roman Republican offerings.
Gallic colonial cities issuing bronze coins in the
late first century BC included Lugdunum (modern Lyon), nearby Vienne, Cabellio
(Cavaillon), Narbo (Narbonne), Nemausus (Nimes), and Antipolis (Antibes).
The most common of this series has to be the Augustus-Agrippa as of Nemausus
with the crocodile reverse. The others are moderately scarce.
In the period just prior to the establishment of
the Imperium control of the coinage had slipped away from the Roman Senate,
with large issues of silver struck by the major players to pay their troops.
Control of the mint at Rome was passed around before it closed for a time.
When Augustus nailed down the purple he reorganized the coinage and reopened
the Rome mint in 23 BC. Around 15 BC he set up a permanent mint in
Gallic Lugdunum, which shortly became the sole issuer of precious metal
coinage in the empire, continuing in this unique position until the time
of Caligula fifty years later.
During this period large numbers of denarii were
struck by Lugdunum, along with smaller issues of gold and bronze.
The most common types have to be the Augustus denarius with reverse of
Caius & Lucius Caesar holding shields, and the so-called "Tribute Penny"
of Tiberius. The latter piece was struck for more than 30 years,
and would be one of the cheaper denarii were it not for the extra added
popularity (and marketability) derived from its biblical associations.
Activity at Lugdunum during the reigns of Caligula
and Claudius was spotty if not conjectural. Nero reopened the mint
to coin bronze. After his death in AD 68 Lugdunum languished, issuing
small quantities of scarcer bronzes under Vespasian and Titus before being
closed down by Domitian. It was reopened 195-197 AD by Clodius Albinus
to pay for his struggle against Septimius Severus. Clodian coins
are rare, and of course the victorious Severus closed down his enemy's
mint. Lugdunum had to wait 170 years before the unfortunate Emperor
Valerian had it reopened.
The gallic mint struck for Valerian, but Gaul was
lost to his co-emperor Gallienus when Postumus successfully rebelled in
259. Lugdunum became for a time the sole mint for the breakaway Gallic
Empire before Postumus moved his capital to Cologne. As he ruled
well his coins are fairly easy to find. Postumus was succeeded by
the short-lived Marius, whose copper coins are tough but not impossible.
Then came Victorinus, Tetricus I (and his son Tetricus II Caesar).
There have recently been large quantities of small copper antoniniani of
Victorinus on the market. These undersize coins usually come in nice
condition but poorly struck. They are almost certainly local products
rather than of the central mint at Cologne.
In 273 CE the Roman Emperor Aurelian invaded Gaul.
Tetricus capitulated immediately, and the unitary empire was restored.
Aurelian used Lugdunum as a subsidiary mint, and his gallic coins are much
scarcer than his fairly common Italian and eastern issues. This pattern
continued under his successors. Tacitus operated a mint at Arelate
(Arles) for a time, and the usurper in Britain, Carausius, 287-93 AD),
struck rare coins at a mint in Rouen.
Lugdunum retained its mint under the reform of Diocletian,
284-305 AD. Coins were issued there by him and his successors and
their relatives down to 423 AD, when the mint finally closed. "PLG"
and its varieties are neither the scarcest mintmarks on these late Roman
coins, nor the most common. The mint at Arelate reopened in 313,
fitfully issuing smaller numbers of coins until the end of the western
Empire.
"BARBARIANS"
By the middle of the 4th century much of northern
Gaul had slipped away from the Empire. Coinage needs were satisfied
locally if at all. Older coins were used until they were mere metal
blanks, and local imitations in miniature were extensively issued.
Today we'd call them counterfeits. Imitations of 3rd century Roman
coins are called "barbarous radiates" after the headgear used on the Emperor's
portrait. Stylistically these coins range from faithful copies of
the originals, though blundered legends, all the way to blobs and lines,
and they can be had quite cheaply. 4th century coins were imitated
as well, though these are not correspondingly called "barbarous laureates,"
and they are equally common and cheap.
The end of the Western Empire after 476 AD found
no one successor capable of holding together a unified Gaul. In the
late 5th century the southwest was held by the Visigoths, the southeast
by Ostrogoths, while the northern and central regions were the home of
various disunited Frankish and Burgundian tribes. In the 6th century
one group living in what is now Belgium put forth a charismatic leader
who eventually conquered all of Gaul. This was Clovis, 481-511, the
first and greatest of the Merovingian line of Frankish kings. Clovis
divided his territory among his sons, so that Merovingian power quickly
waned. Even so, he set up a governing system which continued to reliably
collect tax revenues from much of Gaul for another 300 years.
For the earliest Merovingian period there are faithful
imitations of Byzantine gold coins, mostly tremisses. These were
succeeded by pieces with local types and legends citing names of the city
of mintage and the moneyer. After a century or so a gradual debasement
was carried out, the end point of which was the production of silver "denarii."
At least fifty different towns are named on coins of this series, as well
as a few pieces bearing names of some of the Merovingian kings. A
few ecclesiastical emissions round out the possibilities.
Merovingian coins seem to be unavailable.
I've never seen one outside of museums, and can't remember ever seeing
an offering in a dealer list or auction catalog.
CAROLINGIANS
The personal power of the Merovingian kings waned,
but certain aspects of their government apparatus remained functional.
The strings of this administrative machine were pulled by the "Mayor of
the Palace." This position was fought over by the great families,
and in the 7th century the contest had been narrowed to the houses of Austrasia
and Neustria. In 687 the Austrasian, Pepin II, found himself triumphant,
and inaugurated an illustrious line of hereditary Mayors which culminated
in Charlemagne and the rebirth of the Western Empire.
Mayor Pepin III, the Short, 752-68, wrote to the
Pope in Rome, asking who should be King of the Franks. The Pope responded
that he who held the power should be king. Pepin promptly bundled
the last Merovingian king off to a monastery and took the crown for himself.
He forthwith proclaimed his status by striking coins in his own name.
These are known from some 40 mints. All are rare and expensive.
Pepin was succeeded by Charlemagne, 766-814.
Charlemagne issued a few rare gold tremisses and a quantity of broad silver
deniers of several types (including his portrait) from more than 40 mints.
His coins were issued in large enough numbers that they were widely copied
for centuries after. His successors, many of whom were named Charles,
imitated his types, to the extent that Charles II the Bald (840-877) employed
an identical monogram. Today all Charlemagne's issues are power coins,
rarely offered, fetching high prices at auction.
Coins of the successors of Charlemagne are considerably
cheaper. A typical piece of Louis the Pious, 814-40 for example,
would cost you perhaps $200.00, as opposed to $800 or so as a minimum for
a Charlemagne. Coins of the later Carolingian kings are considerably
scarcer than the earlier pieces. They are not necessarily more expensive,
just offered less often.
FEUDAL & CAPETIAN
Two years before Charlemagne died he had his son
Louis crowned king of the Franks. Louis I the Pious, 814-40 presided
over a decline of the Empire, which was bearing assaults on all its borders
and princely wars within. The Muslims were advancing from Spain along
the Mediterranean littoral, Hungarians probed from the east, and Vikings
ravaged the north and west. For the entirety of his reign his sons
warred over their putative inheritance. The outcome on his passing
was a divided empire and the resurgence of the great provincial lords.
Son Louis ruled in Germany. Lothair retained the Imperium and Italy, with
a strip of territory extending between France and Germany added later.
France went to Charles the Bald, known as Charles I of France, 840-77,
and upon his election in 875, as Emperor Charles II.
Coinage of the period reflected the confusion of
the time. All three sons struck silver deniers and occasional obols
in their own names, as well as with the names or monograms of their father
and grandfather. Also in this period we find the beginning of the
grant of local mint rights in return for administrative or military service
by monasteries and local lords respectively. The local devolution
of political power (and coinage) was to continue in Western and Central
Europe for centuries, assuring an almost continuous state of general war
and economic turmoil.
The successors of Charles the Bald were deficient
of ability and short of reign. Viking raids were especially fierce.
When Charles II the Fat, 884-87, failed to come to the defense of beseiged
Paris in 885-6, the regional nobles in council deposed him and named Odo,
of family Capet and Count of Paris, as king of France. There followed
a century of conflict for the throne as Carolingian challenged Capetian
and vice versa while the nobles schemed.
In 987 the Carolingian presence in France was ended
with the election of the Count of Paris, Hugh Capet, as king. Hugh
had adequate genealogical credentials for the job, but the chief factor
in his selection was most likely his political weakness. His holdings
were small and poor, and he was in no position to dictate to the great
lords who surrounded him.
By this time local control of mint right was widespread,
and the next three centuries of war and anarchy saw the great flowering
of local coinage in France which we like to call the "feudal" period.
One might call it a "Golden Age" of local coinage save that "Billon" is
more appropriate. The entire period can be characterised as one of
ongoing debasement, as silver became ever scarcer and the local mints competed
for bullion.
Political turmoil did not abate. A permanent
Viking settlement had been established in the northwest, its lord recognized
as a count by the Carolingian Charles III the Simple, 893-923. A
later lord of this County of Norsemen, or Normandy, successfully invaded
England. With the various twists of feudal inheritance later English
kings were able to use their status as Norman counts to advance claims
to the French throne, for a time holding, by dint of war and marriage,
fully half of the current territory of France. The great nobles intrigued
constantly against one another, united only in their resolve to keep the
Capetian king a powerless figurehead. The kings struggled to expand
their writ and power.
By the 11th century the coinage was thoroughly decentralized.
Faustin Poey d'Avant, in his standard work, Monnaies Feodales de France,
organized the series by region, within which are to be found any combination
of coinages citing great lord or local feudatory, bishops or monasteries,
the occasional free town where Imperial traditions held, the king, etc.
The major denomination from Carolingian times through
the end of the 13th century was the silver denier, with occasional halves
or obols and rare gold. By the end of that time inflation had added
a double. The 14th century found the kings and a few of the most
independent lords striking larger silver and gold coins, notably gros or
4 deniers, sols (shillings) and fractions, and gold ecus. Border
regions frequently were under the economic influence, if not the political
control of neighbors. Thus one finds English and Flemish style coins
in Artois, Hapsburg types in Burgundy, Italianate pieces in Provence.
Debasement of the deniers was a general rule, but
proceeded at different rates in different jurisdictions, so that value
relationships developed. Thus in Normandy at the start of the 13th
century two deniers of Anjou or of Tours were worth one of Le Mans, while
two mansois would get an English sterling.
The types generally started with a Carolingian coin
or copy thereof. There typically ensued a barbarization of the type
over time which proceeded to total loss of the original meaning.
Finally a later die engraver, dreaming about the possible original import
of the design, allowed imagination to produce once again a meaning, and
a new type emerged.
Most of the local coinages had died out under royal
pressure by the 15th century. Some of the great lords held out as
late as the 17th century, and there was a small outbreak of aristocratic
coinage, mostly in copper, during that period.
I had thought not to go into any detail whatever
about the feudal series. Then it occurred to me that a simple annotated
list of the major headings in Poey d'Avant's work might be of use in an
attempt to make sense of a series which looks at first glance like a bottomless
pit.
PROVISIONAL CLASSIFICATION OF FRENCH FEUDAL COINAGE
The boldface headings are regions more or less corresponding to provinces.
Numbered entries refer in most cases to issuing authorities, mints and
dates follow.
ANJOU
1. Counts coining at Angers, 11-13th centuries.
2. Monastery of St-Florent at Saumur, 10th century.
AQUITAINE
1. Dukes, then English, then French kings at Bordeaux,
Agen, Limoges, Guessin, Poitiers, La Rochelle, and other mints,
10-15th centuries
2. Counts of Fezenzac, 11th century
3. Viscounts of Lomagne, 13-14th centuries
ARTOIS
1. Counts, 9-14th centuries, local types by Spanish
kings 16-17th centuries
2. Town of St-Omer, 11-13th centuries
3. Seigneurs of Fauquembergues, 13-14th centuries
4. Towns of Bethune and Aire, 13th century
5. Counts of St-Pol and Elincourt, 12-15th centuries
6. Counts of Ligny and Serain, 14th century
7. Seigneurs of Crevecoeur and Wallincourt, 14th
century
AUVERGNE
1. Counts minting at Brioude, 11th century (?)
2. Bishops of Le Puy, 11-12th centuries
3. Bishops of Clermont
4. Seigneury of Riom by Alphonse, created count 1230 by
Louis IX
BEARN
1. Viscounts, 10-16th centuries
BERRI
1. Counts and viscounts of Bourges, 9-12th centuries
2. Seignieurial coinage at Chateauroux, Issoudun, Gien,
Sancerre, Mehun, Celles, Vierzon, St-Aignan, Chateau-Meillant, Brosse,
St-Severe, Huriel, Charenton, and Boisbelle et Henrichemont,
11-14th centuries
3. Nevers, Carolingian mint, then Counts 10-14th
centuries
BOURBONNAIS
1. Souvigny priory, 11-13th centuries
2. Sires of Bourbon, 12-13th centuries
3. City of Montlucon, 13th century
BURGUNDY
1. Counts of Macon, as Carolingian mint, then for
French kings in 11th century
2. Abby of Cluny, 12th century
3. Abby of Tournus, Carolingian through 10th century
4. Counts of Chalon, Carolingians through 13th century
5. Town of Autun, Carolingian and episcopal coinages
through 12th century
6. Dukes of Burgundy, 11-15th centuries at Dijon,
Chalon, St-Laurent, and Auxonne
BRITTANY
1. Dukes, Counts, and royal coinage. Mints at Rennes,
Nantes, Guingamp, St-Brieuc, Jugon, Evran, Aurai, Dinan, Guerande,
Quimperle, Vannes, Ploermel, Fougeres, Morlaix, Redon,
9-15th centuries.
2. Counts of Penthievre at Guingamp, 11-13th centuries.
CHAMPAGNE
1. Bishops of Langres, 9-13th centuries
2. Counts of Tonnerre, 10-14th centuries
3. Counts of Auxerre, 12-13th centuries
4. Counts of Sens, 11-12th centuries
5. Counts of Champagne, 11-13th centuries at Troyes,
Meaux, Provins and Sens
6. By the Roman Senate at Provins, 13th century
7. Bishops of Meaux, 11-12th centuries
8. Bishops of Chalons-sur-Marne, 11-12th centuries
9. Archbishops of Reims, 10-14th centuries
10. Counts of Chiny, 14th century
11. Rethel, Counts in 13th century, to Flanders 1346,
Princes in 16th century
12. Chateau-Renaud, 17th century
13. Phalzbourg and Lixheim, 17th century
14. Dukes of Bouillon, 16-18th centuries
15. Village of Cugnon, 17th century
COMTAT-VENAISSIN
1. City coinage of Avignon, 12th century
2. Papal coinage, 1294-1700
3. Counts and Princes of Orange, 12-17th centuries
DAUPHINE
1. Bishops of St-Paul-Trois-Chateaux, 12-14th centuries
2. Bishops of Valence and Die, 12-14th centuries
3. Counts of Valentinois and Diois, 14-15th centuries
4. Archbishops of Embrun, 14th century
5. Bishops of Gap, 12-13th century
6. Seigneurs of Montelimart, 14th century
7. Bishops of Grenoble 11-12th centuries
8. Arbishops of Vienne, 10-14th centuries
9. Dauphins of Viennois, 13-15th centuries
10. City of Lyon, counts and bishops, 10-14th century
11. Counts of Dombes, 15-17th centuries
FLANDRES
1. Cities of Lille, Douai, Cassel, Bourbourg, Beaumont, Agimont, Orchies,
Arleux, Bergues, and Aviothe
FRANCE
1.Dukes of France, 861-987, kings after. Mints at
Paris, St-Denis, Poissy, Senlis, Melun, Ste-Marie, Etampes,
Pontoise, Chateau-Landon, Mantes, Orleans
2. Counts of Dreux, 12-14th c.
3. Royal coinage from 987
FRANCHE-COMPTE
1. Counts 10-11th centuries, to Hapsburgs 1482, to
France 1678
2. Counts of Chalon-Auxerre, 14th century
3. Seigneurs of Chalon-Arlai
4. Town of Besancon, Archbishops 10-11th centuries,
Imperial city under Hapsburgs
5. Chateau Gilley-Franquemont, 16th century
6. Counts of Montbellard, 16-17th centuries.
7. Abbeys of Lure and Murbach, 16-17th centuries
8. Chatelet-Vauvilliers, 16-17th centuries
LA MARCHE
1. Counts, 13-14th centuries
2. Counts of Angouleme, 10-14th centuries (united with
La Marche after 1208)
LANGUEDOC
1. City of Toulouse. Carolingian mint, then Counts 10-
13th centuries. Minor mint at St-Gilles
3. Coins of the Toulousan Marquisate of Provence, 12- 13th
centuries
4. Viscounts and bishops of Narbonne, separately and
together, 8-14th centuries
5. Counts and viscounts of Carcassonne, 10-12th
centuries
6. Counts of Beziers, 11-13th centuries
7. Bishops of Maguelonne, 11-12th centuries
8. Seigneurs of Montpellier, late 13th century
9. Bishops of Lodeve, 12th century
10. Bishops of Uzes, 13th century
11. Bishops of Viviers, 13th century
12. Bishops of Mende, 13-14th centuries
13. Counts of Rodez, 12-14th centuries
14. Seigneurs of Albi, 11-13th centuries. Mints at
Albi and Bonafos
15. Bishops of Cahors, 13-14th centuries
LIMOUSIN
1. Viscounts of Limoges, 12th century
2. Abby of St-Martial, 11-12th centuries
3. Viscounts of Turenne, 12-13th centuries
MAINE
1. Counts 11-12th centuries, kings of France 13-14th
centuries.
NORMANDY
1.Dukes. Carolingian types and degenerations: anonymous, in name
of Richard Lionheart, various Guillaumes, episcopal of
St-Romain, and anonymous. Rouen the main Mint, also Talou.
2. Counts of Evreux, 14th century
PERIGORD
1. Counts, 11-13th centuries
2. English in Bergerac, 14th century
PICARDY
1. Counts of Amiens, 10-12th centuries, royal coinage
in 15th century
2. Bishops of Beauvais, 9-13th centuries
3. Counts of Valois, 12 century at Crepy
4. Soissons, Bishops 11th century, Counts 12-14th
centuries
5. Abby of St-Medard, 10-11th centuries
6. Bishops of Noyon, 12th century
7. Bishops of Laon, 10-14th centuries
8. Abby of Corbie, 11-13th centuries
9. Town of Quentovic, Carolingian through 10th century
10. Counts of Boulogne, 11-13th centuries
11. Town of Calais, English 14-16th centuries
12. Counts of Vermandois, 11-12th centuries
13. Counts on Ponthieu, 11-13th centuries
POITOU
1. Counts, 9-12th centuries, at Melle and Poitou
2. Seignieur of Mauleon, 13th century
PROVENCE
1. Kings of Provence, 855-963. Mints at Arles and
Vienne
2. Counts of Provence, 12-15th centuries
3. Bishops and Archbishops of Arles, 10-16th centuries
ROUSILLION
1. Counts, 12th century, then to the kings of Aragon,
back to France 1641
2. French occupation of Perpignan, 1462-83 and after
1642
SAINTONGE
1. Town of Saintes, 10-11th centuries
THE SPANISH MARCH
1. Counts of Urgel, 13-14th centuries
TOURAINE
1. Counts at Tours, 11-12th centuries
2. Abby of St-Martin at Tours, 9(?)-13th centuries
3. Counts of Chinon, Blois, Chartres, Vendome,
Chateaudun, Remorantin, and Perche, and Mont-Lavi.
A few points to keep in mind when contemplating the list:
1. Poey d'Avant often stated that his attributions were provisional,
even guesswork, and frequently cites different opinions.
2. He wrote in the 1850s. Many new pieces have come to light,
many opinions have been changed, and many of the pieces he described and
illustrated are not known today.
3. Even so his work, is still considered a standard reference, from
which later authors such as Jean Lafaurie drew their inspiration..
So what's the market like? A few coins like
the degenerate deniers of 12-13th century Le Puy have been around in enough
quantity to meet demand for decades. Another very common type is
the denier of Hugh V of Burgundy, 1305-15. This has to be the cheapest
of the feudal coins. It is made of a wretchedly low grade billon,
always miserably struck, and is always found in horrible condition.
But it's real cheap. Isolated low grade French feudal coins are always
to be found in European junk boxes. An average identified billon
denier in "fine" will typically get $10-$30, more if a story can be told.
Small hoards of deniers come on the market regularly. Larger coins
and gold are all scarce to rare compared with their royal counterparts.
EARLY ROYAL COINAGE
The coins of the early Capetian kings are essentially
no different than the feudal issues of their neighbors. In the 10-12th
centuries it consisted of deniers and a few obols struck to a continuously
declining standard. The English presence dominated French politics.
The kings were exceedingly weak and poor and their monetary output was
small, making for rare coins today. A general increase in availability
of silver occurred throughout Europe in the reign of Philip I, 1060-1108,
due to the opening of new mines in the east, and the royal coins from this
time on become a bit more plentiful.
French fortunes really picked up during the long
reign of Philip II August, 1180-1223. With east-west trade advancing
under the stimulus of the Crusades and Venetian commercial ventures there
was a lot more money everywhere.
Philip saw his job as the expulsion of the English
from the continent. Unsuccessful against Henry II and Richard Lionheart,
he eventually prevailed against John Lackland. After decades of intrigue
and subversion Philip charged John with un-feudal behavior, John being
vassal to Philip for his French holdings. When John did not appear
to answer the charges Philip had him judged a felon and seized most of
his lands in 1202, which seizure was confirmed by war over the next two
years. John came back with his buddy the German emperor in 1214,
only to be repulsed again, and from then on the English presence on the
continent was an annoyance rather than a threat.
Philip next moved against the south. The rich
and powerful counts of Toulouse had gotten involved in a revolutionary
religious movement condemned by the papacy as the "Albigensian heresy."
Several crusades were called and the French nobles, thirsting for a nice
war, flocked to the south to spread mayhem and massacre. Philip was
there to pick up the pieces.
Wherever he went Philip spread his royal coinage,
suppressing local mints where he had the legal right and boosting the value
of his currency over the local effort by edict wherever he could.
Coins with his name are known from all over the country, including the
numismatically important regal issues from Tours, for this reign is marked
by the growing ascendancy of the denier tournois with its castle type.
These royal deniers tournois became extremely popular and were imitated
widely. They constitute the first real price break in the royal series,
and you usually don't have to wait too long to find one.
The brief reign of Philip's successor, Louis VIII,
1223-26, saw a continuation of the politcal and economic trends so forcefully
pursued by his father, but due to his early demise his coins are scarce.
His 9 year old son ascended the throne, a situation fraught with peril
for the nation. But in the event France passed through his minority
intact if a bit battered, and he grew up to become St. Louis IX.
Under his gentle guidance France grew to become the richest and most esteemed
nation in Europe. His coinage mirrored the splendor of the culture
he fostered.
By the 13th century several strong kings in succession
had established royal supremacy over the feudal lords, making them monarchs
in fact as well as name. The luck of the Capetian house faltered
with the brief reign of Louis VIII, 1223-26, and the childhood accession
of his son Louis IX. Strong regency by the widowed queen, Blanche
of Castile, brought France intact through the new king's minority, and
he became the most powerful monarch of his time.
Louis IX, 1226-70, conducted internal affairs firmly
and wisely, the economy expanded, and peace reigned in the land.
He pursued policies of reconciliation with his European neighbors, acting
as honest broker in a number of disputes. From a modern perspective
he was something of a religious fanatic, and this aspect of his personality
caused him to undertake two crusades against the Muslims. Both were
miserable failures, the first ending in the capture and ransom of both
king and army, the second being the occasion of his death. He was
later canonized by his church.
Three three noteworthy numismatic events mark his
reign. An edict of 1262 declared the royal money current everywhere,
while the seigneurial coins were to circulate only within their own territory.
The kings had been working on this for more than a century, but Louis was
able to make it stick. A further blow to the feudal coinage was his
introduction of the large gros tournois, an idea borrowed from Italy.
These big, solid pieces of good silver were dramatically more desirable
than the base local deniers. They became extremely popular.
The final straw was to be the introduction of the gold ecu. Gold
was required in international trade, and Louis enforced the royal monopoly
on coinage in that metal, attempting to ensure that all the really big
business went through him. Unfortunately, he proved unable to make
a profit in gold. The coins went out of the mint, but bullion did
not return, and his ecus are now extremely rare..
As you might expect, coins of St. Louis are quite
popular. Deniers tournois are usually obtainable at reasonable prices,
but his gros, being the first of the denomination, are sought after and
carry an emotional premium.
Louis' successor was his son, Philip III the Bold,
1270-85. Philip maintained the administrative machinery established
by his father, but he went adventuring in Spain and got himself killed.
Coinage continued in the patterns of Louis, with reasonably common deniers
and gros and extremely rare gold.
Philip IV the Fair, 1285-1314, ascended on his father's
death. He continued the centralizing policies of his grandfather,
but he lacked the ethics of his ancestor, and today we would characterize
his reign be as dictatorial. He was not a delicate man, and did not
shrink from intrigue and war against his neighbors. It was he who
finagled the election of a French Pope, later masterminding the move of
the Holy See from Rome to Avignon, where the French kings could keep a
thumb on the pontiffs.
Philip coined in large quantities. Even some
of his gold coins can be found, which is more than you can say for those
of predecessors. His later silver was somewhat debased to pay for
his wars.
The luck of the Capetians ran out with Philip's death. His son,
Louis X the Quarreler, 1314-16, died after a short and ineffectual reign
without leaving an heir. His coins are rare, and he did not strike
a gros. His uncle was anointed as Philip V, 1316-22. He struck
deniers and gros, which can be found, and rare gold. When he too
died without an heir another uncle was called to the throne as Charles
IV, 1322-28. Yet again there was no heir, ending the Capetian line.
Charles struck several types of billon coins, most not uncommon, scarce
silver gros and commoner mailles, and a few rare gold types.
THE VALOIS DYNASTY
The son of the Count of Valois, nephew to Philip
IV, ascended as Philip VI, 1326-50. His line endured a bit over 250 years.
The first 150 were rather dismal times for France. Philip was weak
of will and he was up against the ruthless Edward III of England.
Edward had a daughter of Philip III for ancestor, and used this descent
to claim the French throne, which claim he pressed by an invasion of the
mainland in 1337. Successive English kings continued the military
venture and the whole sorry mess has come to be known as the Hundred Years'
War. To top off the misery the Black Death struck in 1348, and within
few years Europe had lost a quarter of its population.
At the start of his reign Philip attempted to reform
the debased royal money, but the war set his plans at naught. More
copper was added to the billon and the silver gros became lighter and a
bit baser. The gold remained relatively pure and the weight tended
to fall more gently, but unrealistic official valuations were put on the
coins. Representative silver and billon of this ruler are not too
hard to find.
The next king, Jean II, 1350-64, was captured in
battle by Edward the Black Prince. A special gold coin, the franc
a cheval, was struck to pay his ransom. The francs were taken
to England where they were reminted as nobles, and today the former are
rare while the latter are common as medieval European gold goes.
With the treaty of Bretigny in 1360 peace was restored for a time, allowing
a successful stabilization of the coinage which held for about fifty years.
Jean's coinage followed the general patterns of his father with perhaps
slightly lower availability to collectors today.
Jean's son Charles V the Wise, 1364-80, was able to reverse the military
situation, winning back all the lost territories except Calais. He
resisted debasement throughout his reign, with the result that his silver
and billon are rather scarce, while his gold is a bit more common than
that of his father.
Charles VI, 1380-1422, had two nicknames: the Well
Beloved, and the Mad, both indicating the mental illness which plagued
him for most of his adult life. Henry V of England invaded and conquered
much of the north. War and changes in bullion values caused many
adjustments during his reign, but his major numismatic innovation was the
start of mint indicators consisting of "secret" points under certain letters
of the legend. More than twenty mints used this system. Another
practice begun at this time was the production of piedforts as patterns
for administrative approval. There are numerous new denominations:
billon liards, patards, blancs, etc., no fine silver, and several different
gold types. The availability profile is similar to the preceding
kings.
By the treaty of 1420 Henry was to marry Charles'
daughter and become king of France on his death, but both kings died in
1422. Both sons claimed the throne, and war ensued. Victory
initially going to the English, fortune tilted toward France with the lifting
of the siege of Orleans by Joan of Arc. Thereafter the English were
pushed steadily back to Calais, and at the end of the reign of Charles
VII, 1422-61, France had once again stabilized as a great power.
French style coins were struck by Henry V and VI.
These "Anglo-Gallic coins have always been popular with Anglophone collectors,
and in recent decades have been somewhat hard to find. The coins
of Charles, and his successors Louis XI, 1461-83, and Charles VIII, 1483-97,
look a lot like those of Charles VI, with somewhat available billon and
rarish gold.
Louis XII, 1498-1515, continued the system of his
predecessors through most of his reign. Campaigning in Italy, Louis
saw the new heavy silver portrait type "testons" in use there, and he borrowed
the idea and took it back to France. These quintessentially renaissance
coins are quite rare. Similar pieces of the next king, Francois I,
1515-47, are more common, and his half testons still more so. To
Francois is attributed the first silver crown of France, a now unavailable
quadruple teston. In his reign the "secret point" mintmarks were
replaced by letters.
Late 16th century coinage is much more available
today than earlier issues. The billon liards, blancs, douzains, and
the silver testons and demis of Henri II, 1547-59, and of Charles IX, 1560-74,
are fairly easy to come by. The first dated issues were made during
this period, and the practice became normal in the reign of Henri II.
The coins of the last Valois king, Henri III, 1574-89, have a similar pattern
and availability profile. The principal innovations were the introduction
of the large silver franc, and quarter and eighth ecus, also in silver.
As opposed to his billon, these are scarce to rare.
The defining characteristic of this period was religious
war. During one of the truce periods the sister of Catholic king
Charles IX was married to the Protestant leader Henri of Bourbon, king
of Navarre. Immediately after the wedding Charles' mother, Catherine
de Medici, connived with his son Henri in the murder of thousands of Protestants
on St. Bartholemew's Day, 23/8/1572, breaking the truce and restarting
the fighting, which dragged on through the entire reign of Henri III.
Now Henri did not like women. He liked boys, did not marry, and produced
no heir. He was also vicious and impolitic. Finally murdering
the wrong rival he fled to the Protestants, where he was assassinated by
a monk.
During this period a few of the best connected noble
houses obtained the right to coin copper. Local issues continued
fitfully until the mid-17th century. Liards from such locations as
Rethel, Nevers, Dombes, and Bouillon are more common than contemporary
royal issues, and can be cheap if you don't mind low grades.
BOURBON DYNASTY
The Catholic side put forth the Cardinal of Bourbon
as Charles X in 1589, and there are few rare coins with his name, but he
is not accepted in the roll of the French kings. Henri of Navarre
had the best claim, and is numbered Henri IV, 1589-1610. He was not
crowned however until he became a Catholic in 1594. His coinage followed
the pattern of the time, save that the lowest denominations, the denier
tournois and the double, were struck in pure copper instead of billon.
These coppers are frequent finds in poor condition in European junk boxes.
Henri struck at 29 mints, of which Paris, Rouen, Lyon, Bordeaux, La Rochelle,
and Nantes are by far the most common. And he too was assassinated.
Through most of the reign of Henri's son, Louis
XIII, 1610-43, the coinage pattern, and current availabilities, remained
unchanged. But in 1640 a thoroughgoing reform was begun with the
issue of the gold Louis and the silver ecu and their fractions, which system
continued unchanged until the Revolution. Louis' coppers are fairly
common and cheap. The billon, silver, and gold are rather expensive.
He had a few gold crowns of 10 Louis struck to please his vanity, but these
are basically unobtainable.
Coinage of the Sun King Louis XIV, 1643-1715, followed
the pattern of his father, with copper deniers, doubles, and liards, silver
ecus and gold louis, and their fractions. Exigencies of statecraft
forced the issue of billon starting in the 1650s. Coins of the Sun
King are much more common than earlier issues at all levels. Expensive
coins are frequently seen in auctions, while the small silver, billon,
and copper are fairly easy to find (in Europe at least) at reasonable prices.
Coinage of Louis XV, 1715-74, and of Louis XVI,
1774-92, is of a piece. Billon was replaced with copper, and the
silver and gold maintained their module and value. Specimens of most
types are fairly easy to come by, minting technique is at least adequate,
and while low grades are the norm, high grade specimens are not unusual.
You will note in the SCWC that little distinction in pricing is made among
the various mints. I have found that the vast majority of specimens
wondering through my inventory have been of just a few mints: A, W, D,
H, N. Most of the rest turn up from time to time, but the frequency
is perhaps one in ten. In copper, sols and halves are more common
than liards, silver ecus and gold louis are more common than their fractions,
and the gold doubles seem to be fairly scarce.
REVOLUTION AND NAPOLEON
Coins of this period are hot and one never has trouble
selling them no matter how bad they look. The coppers of the Constitutional
Period are common, especially the badly made bell metal 12 deniers of "A"
and "BB" mints. The angelic scribe types are perhaps the most popular
French coins. Minors and low grade pieces never make it to dealer
lists, they are always pre-sold. All you ever see of the type are
high grade ecus and halves. Everyone would love to get their hands
on a holed gold coin.
Copper coinage of the Convention period, 1792-95,
is fairly common. The first issue with the tablet of the law is scarcer
than the second Liberty type, but all can be found. The grade/price
curve is very steep, from a few dollars on the bottom to hundreds at the
top. The first 5 franc coin is a power coin, scarce and expensive,
but not rare.
Copper types remained unchanged during the Consular
period, and pieces from common mints are occasionally found with luster
at reasonable prices. The Napoleon portrait pieces are scarce and
sought after, rarely seen on dealer lists. There are a lot of Napoleon
buffs and his coins are very popular. Even the common billon 10 centimes
are instant sellers in low grade at double catalog. Demand is such
that common imperial coins such as the 1808-A franc are hardly ever seen.
All you have to do is make a phone call and the coin is gone, no matter
how ugly, no matter how overpriced.
MONARCHY RESTORED
There is no Bourbon copper of the 19th century.
Most common denomination is the 5 franc, followed by francs and halves.
2 francs and quarters are scarce. Gold is available. Louis
Philippe is the most common portrait, Louis XVIII the least. The
common mintmarks are usually A, K, W, BB, and MA. High grades are
very tough.
NAPOLEON III
In the elections following the overthrow of the
monarchy of 1848 Louis Napoleon was elected president. Enamored of
his uncle's glory, he had always wanted to wear the imperial crown.
He threw a coup and had himself proclaimed emperor. He fostered economic
development at home, but his stupid Mexican adventure left France seriously
weakened in the face of a bellicose Prussia. In the aftermath of
the eventual war the Emperor was deposed.
The "Republique Francais" coins of 1848-50 are not
uncommon. The copper centimes are cheap in circulated. "Louis
Napoleon Bonaparte" coins are a bit scarce, 5 & 20 francs are most
common. "Empereur" coins as a whole are common, except for the large
gold pieces. Used to be they were not particularly popular, now high
grade specimens get very nice prices, but the more common lower grades
are very affordable, coppers often selling for less than a dollar.
THIRD REPUBLIC AND LATER
Nineteenth century types are common. There
has been a dramatic increase in popularity in the last couple of years,
with serious price appreciation for scarce dates and high grades.
The turn of the century types are less popular. I suspect part of
the reason is that the die work of the bronzes is shallow and not too attractive,
while the large quantity of available uncirculated silver 1 and 2 francs
of 1917-19 depresses prices for the other scarcer dates. The gold
10 and 20 franc coins are bullion related items, and the large gold is
typically available at reasonable prices as well. Turn of the century
copper-nickel coins are common, as are most of the center hole types.
After World War I precious metal coinage was abandoned.
There are scarce dates and types of the base metal coins of the 20s and
30s, and perfect uncirculated examples of the nickel brass coins tend to
be hard to find, but the period has not yet caught the fancy of any mass
of collectors, and I'd have to call BU coins of scarcer dates a bargain
at SCWC prices. The same holds true for the silver and gold coins
of 1929-39. There are some underappreciated dates. Consult
your catalog.
I see the same lack of regard for the Vichy series. Of course
the Petain 5 francs is a well known scarce coin, but how many of you have
completed an uncirculated Vichy date set? Yet I think it can be done
at a discount, and I think it would make a nice minor investment.
As for the brass Philadelphia 2 francs of 1944, any piece without spots
is worth grabbing and holding.
1950s coins have just experienced a run. French dealers have
combed British and American stocks for the good varieties, and they are
now showing up in expensive auctions. You should have bought them
two years ago.
Coins from 1960 on are collected in France, but
with just a few exceptions they have been issued in large enough quantity
to satisfy demand. Date collecting is not particularly popular outside
of France and most non-French dealers do not keep large stocks.
EXONUMIA
France is one of the great nations for tokens, medals,
and patterns, having issued all in large quantity and profusion of types
since the 15th century. Cheap jetons are available from that time.
You should be aware that the Paris mint makes restrikes of their medal
types back to the 18th century. Look for a modern style edge marked
with the type of metal. The emergency coins of 1918-20 are easy and
fun to collect. Wish I could say more. Got to go.