Help With A Charles VII Billon Blanc

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Author	Replies: 5 / Views: 865
MartiVltori Pillar of the Community United States 870 Posts	Posted 10/13/2022 11:49 pm OK so I just bought this coin at Numiscorner in France. They are a great dealer that I have bought from many times. On this particular coin however, they just have a date on Charles' reign (1422-1461). France, Charles VII (1422-1461), Blanc aux lis accotes, Tours, Billon, Duplessy:470 Obverse: + K-AROLS: FRANCORV R-EX. Three lilies placed side by side under a crown. Reverse + SIT: NOME: DNI: BENEDICTV:. Short cross with lilies and crowns in opposing quadrants. I'm not a Hundred Years war expert but I do know Charles controlled very little outside of Burgois until 1429. Tours is 160km away from Burgois and I have no idea if this coin could have actually been minted there as early as 1422. Does anyone have a narrower date for the minting of this coin? Here is a pic of the coin in question. Thanks in advance! Edited by MartiVltori 10/13/2022 11:53 pm Report this Post to the Staff

erafjel Pillar of the Community Sweden 2124 Posts	Posted 10/14/2022 02:37 am A nice blanc, @MartiVltori. One can actually place these quite precisely in time to 1429 (possibly spilling over a bit into 1430). It was a single emission, ordered Oct 9, 1429. In 1431 minting of a new type of blanc began, followed by others, eventually with lower silver content (yours has 399/1000 silver). These blancs were minted in several places and I don't think yours is from Tours. It would have a point under the 6th letter on both sides and a tower symbol as mint mark if it was. I think there might be a mint mark after the obverse legend on yours (between REX and the +), but I cannot make it out. It should be either a letter or a symbol. Report this Post to the Staff
MartiVltori Pillar of the Community United States 870 Posts	Posted 10/14/2022 02:48 am Wow thanks for the info @era! Yes there is definately a mark there but I cannot make out what it is exactly. The top of the mark looks like a star but hard to tell. Could just be the top remnant of the "colon" that is between the legends. Perhaps when I have it in hand I can get a closer and sharper image. I do think I see remnants of something under the 9th letter on each side. That would be La Rochelle? Edited by MartiVltori 10/14/2022 03:03 am Report this Post to the Staff
erafjel Pillar of the Community Sweden 2124 Posts	Posted 10/14/2022 03:36 am Yes, that would be La Rochelle. Let's see when you have it in hand, if it can be seen more clearly. Report this Post to the Staff
MartiVltori Pillar of the Community United States 870 Posts	Posted 10/15/2022 5:40 pm So I just found something. According to Numista, the single star (*) is also a Tours mint mark. https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces8628.html Report this Post to the Staff
erafjel Pillar of the Community Sweden 2124 Posts	Posted 10/16/2022 04:34 am I don't think that information is correct ... A star was the mint mark of Le Puy in 1429, and it has been used by various mints over the years, but never by Tours. The only symbol used by Tours is the tower (which is what the city name means). Possibly a mix-up with the flower symbol used by Troyes? Report this Post to the Staff
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