FRANCE, Provincial. Porcien (comté). Gaucher de Châtillon, 1313-1322. Esterlin (Silver, 18 mm, 1.05 g, 12 h), Sterling imitation of Edwardian type. Neufchâteau. ✠ GALC'S COMES PORCIE Crowned and draped facing bust. Rev. MON - ETA - NOV - ICA Long cross pattée, three pellets in angles. Chautard pl. XIX, 6 var. (slightly differing obverse legend). Mayhew 248k. Very rare. Beautifully toned. Minor scratches, a tiny flan fault on the edge and some deposits, otherwise, very fine.



Gaucher de Châtillon, Constable of France and Count of Porcien, struck coins in the lordships of Florennes and Neufchâteau as the husband of Isabelle de Rumigny, widow of Thibaud II of Lorraine, whom he married in 1313. In doing so, he imitated the English sterlings which had become highly popular across Europe through North Sea trade.

While the Esterlins of Yves are widely encountered, those of Neufchâteau are rare. Mayhew recorded only 26 specimens (Cf. N. J. Mayhew: Sterling Imitations of Edwardian Type, London 1983, p. 99).