FRANCE, Royal. Henri II, 1547-1559. Gros de Nesle 1550 A (Silver, 29 mm, 5.80 g, 10 h), Hôtel de Nesle, Paris. ✠ HENRICVS•II•DEI•G•FRANCORVM•REX (crown) Crowned monogram H of Henri II, surrounded by three fleur-de-lis. Rev. (crown) SIT•NOMEN•DNI• - •BNEDICTV (crown) 1550 Cross fleurée, mint mark A below. Duplessy 994. Lafaurie 832. Beautifully toned. Minor areas of weakness, otherwise, very fine.


This double sol parisis or six blanc was introduced by the ordinance of 25 March 1550, as part of a royal initiative to regulate and stabilize the currency. The dies were engraved by chief engraver Marc Béchot while minting was entrusted to Jacques Pinatel. Pinatel’s fraudulent practices led to these coins being nicknamed ‘pinatelles’, especially in southern France during the reigns of Charles IX and Henri III.

The mint workshop was established by Henri II at the Hôtel de Nesle, on the location of today’s Monnaie de Paris. The metal used came largely from melted foreign coins that had been withdrawn from circulation following the ordinance of 31 January 1549.