Charles V gold Franc à Pied ND (1364-1380) UNC Details (Cleaned) NGC, Paris mint, Fr-284, Dup-360 var. (this variety not listed). 3.68gm. KAROLVS • DI • GR | FRAnCORV • RЄX (stops arranged as groups of pellets), crowned, mantled figure of Charles standing facing beneath a Gothic dais, sword in right hand, scepter surmounted by Hand of Justice in left / +XPC • VInCIT • XPC • RЄGnAT • XPC • IMPЄRAT (annulet) (rosette stops), cross fleury with crowns and lis alternating in angles within quadrilobe; lis in spandrels. A piece produced in an odd, but distinctive style, not noted by Duplessy, who, while he does note a variety with an annulet at the hilt of the sword and in the center of the quadrilobe on the reverse, he does not record one with an annulet at the end of the reverse legend. We have seen two others of this style previously: Heritage Auction #3093 (October 2021, Lot 31332) and CNG Auction 49 (March 1999, Lot 2043), both of which were also noticeably clipped. Given that the Franc à Pied is known to have inspired numerous foreign imitations, it is possible that this may be such an imitative issue that is yet to be attributed.

HID09801242017

© 2022 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

To the auctioneer's website