Please Note: This is an authentic medieval French coin, and you will receive the exact pendant in the photographs and description.
FOR PENDANT SIZE SEE COIN DETAILS BELOW
Knights on horseback… maidens in flowing robes… tapestries adorning the walls of fairy-tale castles – it’s easy to see why medieval Europe has captured our imagination from childhood. It is from this world – a world filled with daring feats of bravery, fascinating political intrigue, and stunning artistic developments – that our Coins of Medieval France collection come.
Once a group of medieval Frank states, at the time these coins were minted, France as we know it was being formed and solidified under a united kingdom, and the Gold Royal Ecu d’or and Silver Guenar were becoming the accepted standard in the united France. From the earliest days of a united France, to the birth of the Renaissance, these coins were minted at a place and time which would play a large part in creating the world we live in today.
The coins of late medieval France are a stunning combination of classical imagery and art combined with the intricate medieval letter-forms that are at once incredibly complex and easily read… once you train your eye to them!
The Frankish states, and united France, were Christian kingdoms. Like their neighbors, the French chose to celebrate and honor their faith on their coins – the designs and words on these coins were meant to serve as daily reminders of the source of true wealth.
A cross with squared terminals is called a Cross Pattee - however, this Cross has flared terminals - what are called "indented terminals." In the quadrants of the Cross are the fleur de lis and the royal crown. While we are used to associating the fleur de lis with France, this expression of the famous symbol is meant to remind viewers of the Godhead. The words around the cross are in Latin, and say SIT · NOMEN · DOMINI · BENEDIC: the name of our Lord Jesus Christ be blessed and the date 1593.
The Coat of Arms of France with the legend HENRICVS · III · D · G · FRAN · ET · POL · REX: Henry the 3rd, by the Grace of God, King of the Francs and the Poles.
April's Notes: Working with these regal coins is truly a joy. Stunning in every detail - from the bold, striking Cross to the striking letter forms forming the legend, this beautiful silver Douzain is a striking example of the art of coin minting... and it's even dated!
But perhaps most fascinating is the legend: HENRICVS III DG FRAN ET POL. Now if these seems to be missing something - well spotted! Because there is only so much room on a coin, this is an abbreviated version of Henricus III, Dei gratia Francorum et Polonorum rex. And for those who don't speak Latin on the regular, this translates to: Henry III, by the Grace of God, King of the Franks and the Poles.
Wait, what? How did Poland end up on a French coin you ask? Well, as it turns out, these two Christian kingdoms were very close - and often the royalty of the kingdoms would intermarry to strengthen their alliance. Because of this closeness, Henry III was elected king of Poland (well the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth to be exact) in 1573, a year before he became King of France. This rare legend commemorates his brief joint rule of both Kingdoms.
(Please note: this information and much more will appear on your customized, six page Certificate of Authenticity.)
Each one of these precious survivors is a work of art in its own right. Long lost, each has been rediscovered and has emerged from our Conservation Lab where it has been stabilized and conserved for generations to cherish.
How Your Medieval French Coin Came to Be
To understand where these beautiful French coins came from, you have to go back a few hundred years… to someone you’ve heard of: Charlemagne (768-814)! Also called Charles the Great, and sometimes the “Father of Europe,” Charlemagne was King of the Franks, which region became known as the Carolingian Empire. In just a few short years, he united most of Western Europe for the first time since the Roman Empire, and laid the foundations for modern France and Germany. It was Charlemagne, together with an English counterpart, who created the medieval hand-hammered silver penny. The standard coin of what we call the “Dark Ages” the silver penny became a widespread currency, but it was often “debased” (the practice of making the coins with less silver than usual) and of unreliable value. And then, as centuries passed, the world began to change – by the 1300s the Renaissance and the Age of Exploration were beginning to dawn, trade was expanding, and Europe needed larger coins of reliable purity. New sources of silver and gold were discovered, and the creation of hand-hammered currency blossomed into the large, exquisite coins of late medieval France you see pictured here.
with your treasure coin purchase. Choose your chain and enter Coupon Code: CHAIN at checkout. (Does not apply to discounted clearance chains.)
with your treasure coin purchase. Choose your chain and enter Coupon Code: CHAIN at checkout. (Does not apply to discounted clearance chains.)
Questions? Confused? Looking for a gift? We're experts at matching treasure to people. Give us a call at 503.436.1626, join us on Live Chat, or drop us an email at treasure@cannonbeachtreasure.com.
Questions? Confused? Looking for a gift? We're experts at matching treasure to people. Give us a call at 503.436.1626, join us on Live Chat, or drop us an email at treasure@cannonbeachtreasure.com.
