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1640 countermark on a 1550-A [Paris Mint] Henri II Double Sol Parisis or Gros de Six Blancs, Ciani 1

Currency:CAD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:200.00 CAD Estimated At:600.00 - 750.00 CAD
1640 countermark on a 1550-A [Paris Mint] Henri II Double Sol Parisis or Gros de Six Blancs, Ciani 1

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Host Coin of Henri II (ruled 1547-1559), Vlack 1g Type - 1640 countermark on a 1550-A [Paris Mint] Henri II Double Sol Parisis or Gros de Six Blancs, Ciani 1301, Duplessy 994, Sombart 4456. Very Good to Fine, a fascinating example, struck on a one-year type coin (which itself was only struck at the Paris Mint). The host coin is twice the weight of the sol denomination, and a bit more than double the weight of the douzain types usually found as a host coin for the 1640 countermarks – and they were worth twice as much as a regular sol in circulation. The fleur-de-lys countermark on this issue raised its value from 30 Deniers (i.e. double the value of a Sol of 15 Deniers) to 36 Deniers. This larger denomination was completely unknown to Vlack, as well as Breen and other earlier North American researchers, though countermarked examples of the Double Sol Parisis are also now known for Charles IX and Henri IIII as well – though all are quite rare (and with only one date and mintmark known for the Henri II issues they are likely rarer still with the 1640 countermark). This would have been the largest billon coin in circulation in France or French North America at the time, and since the colonies seldom saw silver or gold, it would perhaps have been the highest value coin in circulation in Canada at the time.