The Royal House of France: Capetians

[Anaximander]

Something old and something new: medieval coinage with a focus on the broader Capetian dynasty, also known as the House of France. 

The Medieval Monday post, started by @VD76, soldiers on, with a wide diversity of geographies and authorities. Here, in this thread, I want to explore French royal coinage.

The Capetian dynasty is among the most enduring royal houses in Europe. Hugh Capet is the founder of the dynasty and his male-line descendants ruled in France from 987 to 1848, interrupted by the French Revolution in 1792 until 1814. Descended from both the Robertines, a line of Carolingian kings, and the Carolingian dynasty of Charlemagne, the Capetians had a crucial role in the formation of the French state, expanding their power and influence from Île-de-France (the region that includes Paris), to cover the entirety of France. The House of Capet ruled in France from the election of Hugh Capet in 987 to the death of Charles IV in 1328. That line was succeeded by cadet branches, the Houses of Valois (1328-1589), Bourbon (1589-1830), and Orléans (1830-1848).

Classic references are Faustin Poey d'Avant, Les Monnaies Feodales de France (Paris, 1858-1862)*, Jean Duplessy, Les Monnaies Francaises Royales De Hugues Capet a Lous XVI (987-1793)*. (Paris, Maison Platt, 1988, 1999), James N. Roberts, The Silver Coins of Medieval France (476-1610 AD) (South Salem, NY: Attic Books, 1996)*, and Louis Ciani, Les monnaies royales françaises de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (Paris, 1926). (* my PDF tables of contents attached) Duplessy.Royales.TOC.pdf Roberts.SCMF.TOC.pdf  Poey d'Avant.TOC (2).pdf

Here, and below, is a list of French Monarchs.

 

 

Let's begin at the beginning, Hugh himself, or not, as this coinage is associated with Bishop Hervé. 

France. Capetians, Hugh Capet. 987–996 AD. AR Denier (0.99 gm, 20.6mm, 6h) of Beauvais. Struck 987-998 by Bishop Hervé (986-998). Cross pattée; pellet in 2ⁿᵈ and 3ʳᵈ quarters. HERVEVS HVGO REX (ligated HE and VE). / Carolus monogram, CΛR◇LVS. ✠BELVΛCVS CIVITΛS. nVF. CNG EA 413 #633. Duplessy Royales I #1; Boudeau 1891; Ciani 12-13; Lafaurie 6; Poey d'Avant Féodales III #6455 (pl.CL #17); Roberts 2251. Typical crude strike. First royal French coin. Ex-Norman Frank Collection, purchased from Andy Singer. Rare. 

Edited July 18 by Anaximander
Updates to Poey d'Avant. Added link to Wikipedia's list of French Monarchs, and TOC PDF..

[Anaximander]

@Nap previously shared his Hugh Capet in a Medieval Monday post. 

As for the French kings that followed him, I have examples of many -but not all- of them. Robert II le Pieux (996-1031) and Henri I (1031-1060) are not yet represented in my collection.  They're seemingly quite rare in any condition. 

       

Moving on, fourth in the line is Philip I (1060-1180), son of Henry I and his second wife, Anne of Kiev.  The name Philip is Greek in origin and was unusual at the time, though it became a popular name in royalty, along with Charles and Louis. 

 

France. Capetians, Philippe I . 1060-1108 AD. AR Denier (1.30ᵍᵐ 22.4ᵐᵐ 4ʰ). Portal type of Aurelianis (Orléans). Porte accostée (gateway), IИ-I-IC around, ΛT downward in center. ✠PHIL'PVS x REX D‾I. / Short cross pattée, S in 1ˢᵗ and 4ᵗʰ quarter. ✠ΛVRELᴵΛNIS CIVITΛ. aVF. Pegasi Numismatics Auction 33 (VAuctions Sale 317) #781. Rare. Duplessy Royales I #50 var. (℞ legend NE-I-IC-TΛ); Erslev Thomsen 2920. cf. Lafaurie I #68; Roberts 2376 (℞ legend). Ciani - .

[Qcumbor]

Nice idea for a thread @Anaximander. Do you want them in order of appearance or at random ?

Q

[Anaximander]

It's hard to stage manage these things, @Qcumbor, especially when posts can be picked up again later. I'll be going in regnal order initially, but overall it's just fais ce que voudras (as Gargantua, by Rabelais, would say) or 'do as you please.'  Feel free to join in anywhere you like.

I'll plunge on with Louis VI le Gros (1108-1137), Louis VII le Jeune (1137-1180), and Philip II Auguste (1180-1223). These deniers are all rather crude in design and strike. 

 

France. Capetians, Louis VI le Gros. 1108‑1137 AD. AR Denier (1.00 gm, 19.6mm, 1h) first type of Dreux. Church façade. ✤LVDOV–CVS REX./ Short cross pattée, Ω in 2ⁿᵈ and 3ʳᵈ quarter. ✠DRVCΛꙄ CΛꙄTΛ.  aVF. Pegasi Numismatics Auction 34 #784. Duplessy Royales I #96; Roberts 2362/2361; Ciani 106. cf. iNumis MBS 44 #306.

  

France. Capetians, Louis VII le Jeune. 1137-1180 AD. AR Denier (1.39 gm, 21.2mm, 10h) of Château-Landon. Pale between two crosiers, each topped by …; an abbot's crosier is wrapped by a pallium or "sudarium" hence a crosier in pale. ✠LVDOVICVS REX.  / Short cross inside dotted border, S in 1ˢᵗ & 4ᵗʰ quarters. ✠LΛND🝊NIS CΛSTΛ (cruciform O).  VF. Pegasi Numismatics Auction 34 #785.  Ciani 122; Duplessy Royales I #136; Lafaurie 147; Roberts 2316. cf. CGB.fr Auction 2021-03 #644028 (cruciform O); iNumis MBS38 #247 (round O).

  

France. Capetians, Philippe II Auguste. 1180-1223 AD. AR Denier (0.76 gm, 18.5mm, 11h) of Laon, struck by Bishop Roger I of Rosoy (1174-1207). Facing bust of crowned king ✠PHILIPVS RE./ Mitered bust facing of Bishop Roger de Rosoi. ✠ROGERVS EP̅E. VF. DNW Auction 2017-12-12 #1747. Tony Merson Coll. Ex-Christie's Auction 10-11 Oct 1989 #282 (part). Rare. Boudeau 1905; Ciani 150; Duplessy Royales I 184; Lafaurie 173; Poey d'Avant Féodales III #6545; Roberts 2387. 

 

[ominus1]

....this lQQks like a job for 'the Louies' coinage o mine...yes, i took up the Louis's because i was born in St. Louis, and that's the coin i started with so many years ago...the ones i don't have are few and very coslty IF you can find one for sale at all..  (seems like i remember reading that.Hugh was also the Mayor of the Palace under Louis lV/V? before being elected king?)...the coins of the Franks/French are very collectible and rich in history  🙂

[Anaximander]

I see that you have several interesting names in your collection, @ominus1, including a Louis VIII the Lion (1223-1226) - Louis IX (Saint Louis, 1226-1250).

I lack a Louis VIII, but can tell you that he invaded England while a prince, conquered 'half' and was proclaimed King of England by traitorous English barons!  He led a Albigensian crusade against the Cathar Heresy within France.  He was King of France for just three years, and only two types of deniers tournois are accorded to him, one of which is shared with Louis IX. The latter would be your example.

By contrast, Louis IX had a long and eventful reign that included several crusades to the Holy Land, his capture and ransom, and shortly after his death, being canonized as a saint. And yes, St. Louis, Missouri was named after the revered king. His coinage is notable for the introduction of (an excessively rare) gold coinage and high-value silver, coin known as the Gros Tournois, valued at 12 deniers tournois.  

  

Then came Philippe IV le Bel (Philip the Fair), 1285-1314. The current issue of National Geographic History has a lurid story of the Nesle Tower Affair during his reign. It recounts wretched events concerning his three sons -the future kings Philip V, Louis X, and Charles IV- and their Burgundian wives Margaret, Joan, and Blanche, all daughters of the Duke and the Count of Burgundy. It ends badly, with cruel punishments, immurations, assassinations, and the beginnings of the 100 Years War. 

 

 

 

A standard reference for the Gros Tournois is Mayhew (ed.), The Gros Tournois: Proceedings of the Fourteenth Oxford Symposium on Coinage and Monetary History. RNS, SP 31 (London, 1997) and a key article is by Cees van Hegel, The Classification of the Gros Tournois.  

 

Three brothers then reigned, one after the other, following their father, Philip IV. First was Louis X the Quarrelsome (1314-1316).

I lack an example of his gold (an 'agnel d'or') or billon coinage (a denier parisis and a denier tournois) from his short reign. Louis' posthumous son lived only five days, and so his brother Philip V le Long (the Tall) , became king, 1316-1322.  I have here a gros tournois. There is only one gold issue and one silver issue. 

   

Then came the third brother, as Charles IV le bel (the Fair).  Unlike the first two brothers, there was copious issue of coins of many metals and denominations. As he, too, failed to deliver a living male heir, his death brought about the end of the direct Capetian line and the beginning of the cadet branch, the House of Valois.

  

 

[ominus1]

2 hours ago, Anaximander said:

Philippe IV le Bel 

..those are dandies you have some dandies there!...and i have a denier of Philip lV, the fair in my Louis's, for he was father of Louis X  and he, along with his 'Pope" tortured and killed Jacques DeMolay along with other Knights Templar members... and coins of Louis X are very few and far in between, so his infamous father is ok there...:)

[Nap]

Nice coins!  The early Capetians are tough coins, frequently not that nice looking, and tricky to identify since everyone had the same names!

I have not really started to seriously work on the lengthy series of French kings, only have these Capetian coins...

 

Hugh Capet (with Bishop Herveus) denier, Dy. 1

 

Louis VIII (?) denier tournois, Dy. 187

 

Philip III denier tournois, Dy. 204

 

Philip IV gros tournois, Dy. 214

 

I find attribution tricky because of the name repetition and because differences are very subtle (for example gros tournois of Philip IV and V).  Reminds me of the English Plantagenet coins- not my favorite area...

The attribution of the above coin to Louis VIII isn't certain.  I have read that coins reading 'TVRONVS CIVI' are from Louis VIII and 'TVRONVS CIVIS' are Louis IX, but this isn't accepted by everyone and the safer thing to do is probably call it Louis VIII or IX.  As Louis was, as mentioned above, briefly proclaimed king of England, I need a coin of his for my English set, with the understanding that the tentative attribution is probably the best I'm gonna get.  I don't believe any coins can definitely be attributed to Louis VIII.

[Anaximander]

On 7/16/2024 at 8:12 PM, ominus1 said:

..those are dandies you have some dandies there!...and i have a denier of Philip lV, the fair in my Louis's, for he was father of Louis X  and he, along with his 'Pope" tortured and killed Jacques DeMolay along with other Knights Templar members... and coins of Louis X are very few and far in between, so his infamous father is ok there...:) 

Definitely a prize worth having amidst your 'St. Louis Collection.'  The 14th C. was buzzing!  

On 7/17/2024 at 7:18 AM, Nap said:

Louis VIII (?) denier tournois, Dy. 187

Philip III denier tournois, Dy. 204

Philip IV gros tournois, Dy. 214

I find attribution tricky because of the name repetition and because differences are very subtle (for example gros tournois of Philip IV and V).  Reminds me of the English Plantagenet coins- not my favorite area...

The attribution of the above coin to Louis VIII isn't certain.  I have read that coins reading 'TVRONVS CIVI' are from Louis VIII and 'TVRONVS CIVIS' are Louis IX, but this isn't accepted by everyone and the safer thing to do is probably call it Louis VIII or IX.  As Louis was, as mentioned above, briefly proclaimed king of England, I need a coin of his for my English set, with the understanding that the tentative attribution is probably the best I'm gonna get.  I don't believe any coins can definitely be attributed to Louis VIII.

Roberts SCMF attributes all deniers with CIVI to "Louis VIII or Louis IX" (#2406), with CIVI being used up to 1266. After that, all CIVIS issues belong to to Louis IX. Such a fine line to tread!  

Your Philip IV gros tournois has all the characteristics of his issuance from 1285-1290:
1) the M of NOME is "open" (type 2), roughly ᙏ,
2) all the Ns in BNDICTV NOME DNI usually appear as H,  
3) the X in XPI is preceded by one pellet, .XPI  

Further, Clees van Hengel cites the L with a lis in PHILIPPVS as a type 13 (or "punctuation f") and on the reverse you have TVRONVS that features a hooked and pelleted R (which is listed as variant 1e) and an S∵ (which he has coded as "punctuation a").  Thus the coin appears in his catalog as Philip IV issue of 1290-1295 #505.02 with a description +TV1ONVSaCIVIS +PhIfIPPVSREX M=2 .X N=H, where he knew of 61 specimens in the hoards.  I'll attach my diagnostic page (but not the plates); it's unnecessarily complicated by the failure to use extended fonts, leading to a series of codes. C'est la vie.  

 

[seth77]

1 hour ago, Anaximander said:

Roberts SCMF attributes all deniers with CIVI to "Louis VIII or Louis IX" (#2406), with CIVI being used up to 1266. After that, all CIVIS issues belong to to Louis IX. Such a fine line to tread!  

I wonder what he based this assertion on. My impression was that the demarcation line between CIVI and CIVIS was in fact 1245. The new CIVIS series appeared close to the Seventh Crusade, probably predating the deniers tournois of Alphonse and Charles but not by much. If I am not mistaken, according to Duplessy, the hoard data also supports this. 

Here is a Louis le Gros from Orleans:



And a denier parisis from Louis VII le Jeune from the 1140s

Edited July 18 by seth77

[Qcumbor]

Interesting issues all.

My only Philippe IV "Le Bel" and first of mine in the series

Philippe IV "Le Bel" (1285-1314) - Gros tournois à l'O rond - Atelier de Lille ? (2 petits points a droite du lis superieur du revers)
+ BNDICTV SIT NOME DNI NRI DEI IhV XPI dans le cercle exterieur, +PHILIPPVS REX dans le cercle interieur, croix au centre
TVRONVS CIVIS + dans le cercle interieur, chatel tournois au centre, bordure de douze fleurs de lis a l'exterieur
4.13 gr
Ref : Ciani # 203

 

Q

[seth77]

An early Royal denier tournois with the Saint Martin legend, Philippe II Augustus c. 1204+
+ PHILIPVS REX / + SCS MARTINVS (Duplessy 176 (REX variant), Ciani 165, Lafaurie 193)

 

After the assassination of Arthur de Bretagne by King John "Lackland", Philip Augustus took control of Tours and became protector of the abbey (1202-1204) and from 1204 became abbe laique.
Judging by the legend, this denier was probably minted in the first stage of Philippe's control over Tours, while the coinage was still monastical, between 1204-1220; possibly this specimen belongs to an earlier phase of minting to around 1210(?)

Soon after (1220-1223), the coinage was moved to the city of Tours and became the very well known and widely used denier tournois and its legend changed from SCS MARTINVS to TVRONVS CIVI(S), evolving into a very successful royal coinage, which was then adopted throughout the Kingdom by other mints as well.

[Anaximander]

The male line of descent under the direct Capetian line came to its end under Charles IV in 1328. The contested succession was the proximate cause of the Hundred Years War (1337-1453), when Plantagenet Edward III of England sought his birthright as the grandson of Philip IV, which was contested by the Valois descendent of Philip III, Philip VI.  The House of Valois ruled 1328-1589, with seven kings. 

The fiscal distress from incessant warfare brought inflation and the debasement or retariffing of coinage, along with the issuance of many new types. In my small selection, you have a different denomination for each king: the gros à la couronne, gros tournois, franc à pied, gros dit 'florette,' blanc à la couronne, blanc au soleil, and liard au dauphin.  

Philip VI of Valois "the Fortunate" (1328-1350). 
  

John II the Good (Jean le Bon, 1350-1394). 

    

Charles V the Wise (le Sage, 1364-1380). 

  

Charles VI the Mad, or Beloved (le Fou, le Bien-Aimé, 1380-1422). 

  

Charles VII the Victorious (le Victorieux, 1422-1461). He saw the victorious conclusion of the Hundred Years War during his reign. 

  

Louis XI the Prudent (1461-1483).

 

Charles VIII the Affable (1483-1498). 

  

I'd love to see what others have managed to collect. 

 

Edited July 19 by Anaximander
resized Charles V text box

[Qcumbor]

Beautiful !

Jean le Bon, Florin :

 

Jean le Bon, gros à la couronne :

 

Charles VI, blanc guénar :

 

Charles VII, écu d'or :

Q

[Anaximander]

Some serious coinage, there, @Qcumbor.  Four kings and four different denominations, among which a florin d'or of Languedoc! (Duplessy 346) and an éco d'or! Oh là là! 

With the death of Charles VIII in 1498, the throne vacant and with no direct heir, it fell to a distant cousin to ascend to the throne: Louis of Orléans. Louis XII (1498-1515) was the grandson of the brother of Charles VI (1380-1422) and the only surviving son of three wives taken by his father, Charles, the Duke of Orléans (1394-1465). His was the House of Valois-Orléans. It did not survive him, as he too died without a male heir despite having taken three wives (the last one being the sister of Henry VIII of England).  

Does anyone have a coin of Louis XII? 

So we're back to the genealogical tables to find a king!  Louis XII had an uncle, the Count of Angoulème, whose grandson was crowned Francois I (1515-1547). Thus began the House of Valois-Angoulème, with its five Renaissance kings.  Francois was known as the Father and Restorer of Letters, and a patron of the arts. 

   

Henry II (1547-1559). He was the second son of Francois I, but became the crown prince (dauphin) after his older brother died after a game of tennis (!).  King at age 28 and married to Catherine de'Medici at the age of 14, Henry had four living sons when he died from wounds received in a jousting tournament held to celebrate the end of the Italian Wars.  Coins, anyone? 

In an echo of the direct-line Capetian kings and brothers (Louis X, Philip V and Charles IV) more than 200 years earlier, three Valois brothers then ruled in succession.

Francois II (1559-1560).  The light that burns twice as bright burns half as long: Francois II was king of France and of Scotland, through his wife, Mary, Queen of Scots. Yes, Mary of the Tower of London fame. Francois was 14 when he married, king at age 15, dead at age 16. No coins were issued in his name in France, only in Scotland. 

Charles IX (1560-1574).  King at age ten, his regent was his mother, and very Catholic, Catherine de'Medici.  The reign was marked by the wars of religion. The religious strife culminated in the St. Bartholomew's Massacre while celebrants were in Paris to attend a royal wedding.  With no male heir, Charles died of tuberculosis, and the crown was picked up by his younger brother, Henry. 

Henry III (1574-1589).  King of Poland and Archduke of Lithuania when his brother Charles died, Henry III was a monarchial absolutist caught in a storm of civil unrest and intrigue.  The Catholic League (supported by Spain and the papacy) violently opposed the protestant Huguenots (backed by England and the Dutch), and Henry's regime was assailed by an aristocracy (including his brother) that fought Henry's vision of a strong central regime. The assassinations that followed included his own and, lacking an heir, that ended the rule of the House of Valois-Angoulème. 

  

Here, then, begins the reign of the House of Bourbons, in a crisis of succession that naturally devolved into civil war and multiple claimants. The War of Three Henrys (1587-1589) produced one victor, the closest in line, Henry of Navarre, who ruled as Henry IV. His is my last coinage of Royal France. I usually stop my collecting around the mid-1500s, as hammered coinage gives way to the milled variety. 

  

The Bourbon kings that followed were long-lived (Louis XIII 1610-1643; Louis XIV 1643-1715; Louis XV 1715-1774), except when getting guillotined (Louis XVI, 1774-1792). 

Edited July 22 by Anaximander
Added Henry IV and the House of Bourbon.

[Qcumbor]

Cool coins !

Here are my portrait coins for the same three kings (and Henri II after François I)

Francois I° (1515-1547) - Teston du Dauphiné deuxieme type - Ref : Ciani # 1141v - Atelier de Romans (point secret sous la deuxième lettre, R couronnée au revers)
+ (triangle) FRANCISCVS.DEI.GRA.FRANCOR.REX (triangle) buste cuirassé et couronné a droite
+ (triangle) SIT.NOMEN.DNI.BENEDICTVM.R.(Mm) (triangle). Ecu ecartelé de France et Dauphiné. Grande F sur l'ecartelé (après le 8 octobre 1528, date à laquelle une lettre F brochant sur l'écartelé fut ajoutée sur les testons (source CGB VSO 09/1067))
9,25 gr - 26/29 mm
Ref : Ciani # 1141v

 

Henri II (1547-1559) - Teston 1555 M - Atelier de Toulouse 
. HENRICVS II . D . G . FRANCO . REX, buste cuirassé a droite
XPS . VINCIT . XPS . REGNAT . XPS . IMPER coeur sur croissant, ecu de France couronné accosté de deux H couronnés. M a la pointe de l'ecu
9.49 gr
Ref : Ciani # 1271v

 

Henri III (1574-1589) - Demi franc 1587 O - Atelier de Riom 
+ HENRICVS . III . D . G . FRAN . ET . POL . REX (monde = Maître CHAMBIGE), buste au col plat a droite
+ SIT . NOMEN . DOMINI . BENEDICTVM . 1587 (rose = Graveur FAURE) croix feuillue avec H horizontale au centre
6.64 gr - 148.039 exemplaires
Ref : Dy # 1131, C # 1430, L # 971, Sb # 4716

 

Henri IV (1589-1610) - Demi Franc 1601 M - Atelier de Toulouse (M et point sous la cinquième lettre)
HENRICVS . IIII . D . G . FRANC . ET . NAV . REX, buste lauré et cuirassé avec un col plat. A l'exergue 16 M 01.
trefle SIT . NOMEN . DOMINI BENEDICTVM . Croix fleuronnée avec H en son centre
6.81 gr
Ref : Ciani # 1540

Q

 

[Qcumbor]

I think we now need a few Louis : XIII, XIV, XV & XVI

Louis XIII (1610-1643) - Quart d'ecu d'argent du 3° type 1643 A  (Paris)
LVDOVICVS . XIII . D .G . FR . ET . NAV . REX, buste lauré, drapé et cuirassé a l'antique à droite
rose SIT . NOMEN . DOMINI BENEDICTVM . 1643, ecu de France couronné, A à la pointe de l'ecu
6.86 gr
Ref : Ciani # 1661v

 

Louis XIV (1643-1715) - Quart d'écu aux palmes - 1694 D (Lyon)
LVD. XIIII. D. G (SOLEIL) - FR. ET. NAV. REX. Buste de Louis XIV à droite, cuirassé, avec la grande perruque
(croissant) SIT. NOMEN. DOMINI. - D - .BENEDICTVM. 1694. Écu rond de France couronné entre deux palmes.
6,46 gr - 30 mm
Ref : C #1896, Dy #1522A

 

Louis XV (1715-1774) - Cinquieme d'ecu au bandeau 1759 L (Bayonne)
LUD . XV . D . G . FR . ET . NAV . REX, tête ornée d'un bandeau a gauche
. SIT . NOMEN . DOMINI BENEDICTVM rose 17[5]9, ecu ovale couronné entre deux branches de laurier
5.81 gr
Ref : Ciani # 2127

 

Louis XVI (1774-1792) - Cinquième d'Ecu aux lauriers 1784 A (Paris)
LUD . XVI . D . G . FR . ET . NAV . REX ., buste habillé a gauche orné du cordon du Saint Esprit. Héron sous le buste
SIT NOMEN DOMINI BENEDICTVM lyre 1784, ecu ovale couronné entre deux branches de laurier, A sous l'ecu
Tranche cordonnée
5,86 gr - 26,5 mm
Ref : Ciani # 2190

Q