Champagne, 2 tournois 1637 ?

[Michiel]

I can't find him in krause and on cgb.fr . But i think it must be a 2 tournois 1637 on name of Charles de Gonzague of champagne.

can anybody conform that?

[Figleaf]

Correct. Poey d'Avant, pl. CXLIV, n° 4 – Boudeau 1615

obv: bust in lace collar in pearl circle CHARLES I DVC De MANTua Souverein D'ARches
rev: three heraldic lilies in double circle separated by rings + DOVBLE.De.LA.SOVveraineté.D'ARches

Apostrophes missing.

Peter

[Michiel]

Thanks

sometimes its unhandy (is that english?) that krause is missing a lot of states.

So I just make a new section for champagne (cheers) in my collection.

[ChrisHagen]

Yeah unhandy is a word

Krause does not include many of these less-than-official double tournois issues of 17th century France.

One can wonder why!

[Figleaf]

They were "official" in the sense of "legal", i.e. struck on the basis of old minting rights. Rather than providing a handy means of payment, they were a source of income for the issuer, though. They could only circulate in the territories of the nobleman who had them struck, which limited seigniorage income. Therefore, these nobleman would tend to pick a design that could be easily taken for that of a royal coin, but with a different text or slightly different arms.

For comparison, here is a contemporary worn royal coin. Pretend you can't read. What's the big difference? Of course, money changers, professional merchants and big city shopkeepers knew quite well that the double tournois with a double circle was not a royal coin, but apart from them, the Champagne coin would find ready acceptance in all of France. That would of course never be blamed on the feudal lord!

Peter

[Michiel]

than i understand also the double circle. Thanks for the explanation

[ChrisHagen]

What is it with these diagonal lines?

They are on a lot of issues.

[Figleaf]

This is a bar dexter (running from upper left to lower right), a heraldic indication of a younger son. In other words, a junior branch of the ruling family. There is also a bar sinister (running from upper right to lower left), indicating an illegitimate child. In addition, there is the label, usually designating a heir apparent. These subtle additions were great to use on coins, as it was hoped that people would not see or understand them.

Peter

[ChrisHagen]

Thank you so much Peter! I had been wondering about that for a good year or so!