★ The Mad King ★

FRANCE: Charles VI, “The Well Liked” or “The Mad” (1380-1422), billon blanc guénar, 2nd emission September 1389. Tournai (dot in 16th position), 2.55g, 27.5 mm.
Obv: + KAROLVS FRANCORV REX, Coat of arms.
Rev: + SIT NOME DNI BENEDICTV, Cantoned cross with two crown and two lis in angles.
Dupl. 377A
From the Orfew collection.
A very pleasing example in nice metal, with some iridescent tone.
Estimate: 75

Charles inherited the throne as a pre-teen during the upheaval of the Hundred Years’ War, leaving the realm to be mismanaged by his four uncles. The year before this coin was issued, Charles gave his uncles the boot, brought back Charles V’s advisors, and thereby much improved the situation. It was at this time that he earned the epithet “Le Bien Aimé” (The Well Liked). Less than three years later he would suffer his first bout of serious mental illness, killing four knights and nearly his own brother as well. Such incidents increased in frequency over the following years (he once insisted he was made of glass) and near the end of his reign he disinherited his own son and left the kingdom to Henry V of England. Predictably, chaos ensued.