Among the specimens struck at Donapoleun, those that have gained the least fame and honor are the silver quarter and eighth shields of Louis II (Louis XIII of France). While a considerable amount of work can be found on the coinage of his father, Henri III, little can be found on the coinage of Louis II, struck at the mints of Bearn and Navarre.
One reason for this lack of appeal could be the continued development of models and images during Louis' reign. When Henry III was assassinated in 1610, Louis' silver shields, produced in Donabate during December and over the next twenty years, retained the same values, laws and image designs used by Henry.
The origin of the silver quarter and eighth shields, Henry's coinage at Donapaleu We explained this in one of the entries provided. By the time his son Louis II had ascended the throne, that is, from September 1602, Henry had raised the value of the quarter-euro to 16 sous. The value of the eighth-euro was therefore 8 sous. These values remained constant throughout the entire period of the minting of Louis II's silver shields, until they were raised to 20 and 10 sous in June 1636.
And this value has its importance, since the denomination that these pieces will receive in the coinage accounts is quite rich. On the one hand, they often received the denomination of the pieces of 16 and 8 tornestar sueldo that reflected their value, but also the original name of the quarter and half quarter sueldo (and not the denomination of the eighth sueldo). Moreover, in some cases the coinage accounts also include the denomination of francs and half francs. As can be seen, beyond the academic denomination that we give them today, the denominations of the time were quite rich, somewhat confusing, since the silver francs and sueldos were created completely differently during the 16th century.
Both the silver fineness and the nominal coin weights remained fixed. 917 thousandths and 9.712gr for quarter escudos, 4.856gr for eighth escudos. Quarters are around 29mm in diameter, eighths around 24mm (although there are many differences). Eighth escudos represent the Roman numerals V-III on both sides of the coat of arms on the obverse, while quarter escudos represent the Roman numerals II-II.
If we look at the last coinages of Henrique and the first of his son Luis, although we can notice the aforementioned stylistic continuity, there are a couple of novelties that are worth mentioning.
On the opposite side, we can find the image of the Greek cross with lilies, which can be found since the time of the first quarter shields of 1584, nothing new. But if we look at the pictorial text, while Henry's ordinal shows Arabic numerals, Louis's shows the return of Roman numerals. We must remember that Henry's Navarrese coins, 4. Ordinal numbers were shown in Arabic numerals, became king of France and Navarre from 1589, and this is the only case in which we have the coinage of all his territories.
Silver Quarter Shield minted in 1610 at the Donapaleu Mint – 9.39 gr. 29mm Diameter
Found: HENRICVS.4.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVAR.REX
Address: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.ID:Q.SVM.1610 F (F Captain Jehan Du Four)
Monnaies D'ANTAN Vente aux Enchères N°2 Lot 577
Silver Quarter Shield minted in 1610 at the Donapaleu Mint – 9.49 gr. 29mm Diameter
Found: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVA.RX
Address: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.ID:Q.SVM.1610 F (F Captain Jehan Du Four)
CGB.FR, E-MONNAIES DÉCEMBRE 2015, LOT 368532 15.12.2015
On the Ifrentzu side, again, there are no special innovations. The half-coat of arms of France and Navarre, the old motto GRATIA DEI SVM ID Q SVM and the year of minting next to the crown. Above the crown, next to four coins, besantes or circles, there is usually a C izki or what could be the image of the moon. On all the coins of Donapaleu (From the first libres of 1579) this C or crescent appears and some describe it as the hallmark of the engraver Jerome Le Normand. I have my doubts here, because if so, Jerome or his relatives maintained the image of their engraver's hallmark on the coins of Donapaleu for about 36 years.
What is undoubtedly characteristic of the obverse is the horn that usually appears on the right side of the crown. We will find this horn in this position until we begin to examine the coins of the year 1614. From this year onwards, the horn of the obverse will appear next to the number corresponding to the year. And from 1616 onwards, no more C horn or moon image will appear.
Regarding the period of production of the quarter and eighth shields of Louis II, and looking at the letters corresponding to the mint heads, we can compile the following list:
- F ixia: Captain Jehan du Faur or du Four (1595 – 1612). During the reign of Louis II (1610-1612)
- M ixia: Pierre Massalin (1612-1621)
- A letter: A few coins bearing the letter A were struck in 1620. Unfortunately, no records from that year have been preserved and we only have the unsubstantiated hypothesis that the letter A is the mark of the mintmasters Jean Arroque or Joannis d'Anga.
- Name: Pierre Fouron or de Foron (1621-1630)
Although the books written about the coinage of Bearn and Lower Navarre state that the minting of silver coins ceased in 1632, I have only found specimens from Donapaleu up to 1630. The preserved coinage accounts stop in 1629. The coinage accounts show that, in addition to the predominance of the number of quarter escudos minted in each year of mintage, eighth escudos were also minted every year. That is, while quarter escudos were minted in quantities of between 50,000 and 100,000 pieces each year, eighth escudos were minted in quantities of between 10,000 and 20,000 pieces. However, I have found specimens corresponding to all years with one exception; I have not found any specimens corresponding to the year 1626, neither quarter escudos nor eighth escudos.
Silver Quarter Shield minted in 1611 at the Donapaleu Mint – 9.57 gr. 29mm Diameter
Found: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVA.RX
Address: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.ID:Q.SVM.1611 F (F Captain Jehan Du Four)
MDC MONACO, E-AUCTION 3, LOT 392 09.04.2022
After that year 1616, we have no trace of any marks or symbols on the coins of Donapaleu that could have been the engraver's hallmark. And as mentioned earlier, if we take this crescent or letter C that appears on the coins made before 1616 as the engraver's hallmark, this would reflect the continuous work of the Le Normands for 36 years.
However, there is one peculiarity that remained unchanged throughout the entire period of Louis II's silver shields (this distinctive feature first appeared on the silver shields of his father Henry III around 1604). The same feature was also maintained without interruption in the silver hammered shields of Donapaleut of his son Louis III (Louis XIV, the Sun King of France).
What is distinctive, both on the obverse and reverse, is the double dot that appears behind the two Ds found at the ends of the words that make up the image text. We will not find this on the coins of the surrounding mints, neither in Bayonne nor in the coins of Morlaas in Bearn or Pau.
The meaning of these double dots, however, is unknown to me.
Silver Eight Shields minted in 1609 at the Donapaleu Mint – 4.61 gr. 24mm Diameter
Obverse: HENRY.4.D:Q.FRAN.ET.NAVAR.REX
Ifrentzua: FREE.CALL.SVM.Q.SVM.1609 F (F Captain Jehan Du Four)
MONNAIES D'ANTAN, AUCTION 24, LOT 663
Silver Eight Shields minted in 1611 at the Donapaleu Mint – 4.72 gr. 23.5mm Diameter
Obverse: LOVIS.XIII.D:Q.FRAN.ET.NAVAR.RX
Ifrentzua: FREE.CALL.SVM.Q.SVM.1611 F (F Captain Jehan Du Four)
INUMIS, MAIL BID SALE 44, LOT 479 05.03.2019
The eight-euro coins presented earlier have another noteworthy point. As is known, the weight and size of the eight-euro coins were smaller than those of the quarter coins. As a result, abbreviations and cuts were often necessary in the pictorial texts that appeared on the coins.
On the obverse side, the old motto GRATIA DEI SVM ID Q SVM of the quarters was replaced by GRATIA DEI SVM Q SVM. On the obverse side, from the time of Henry III, the abbreviation of the Latin name HENRI, HENRICVS, began to be used. But over the years, this abbreviation HENRI was confused with Henry's French name Henri and when his son Louis II was crowned, instead of using an abbreviation of the Latin name LVDOVICVS that appeared on the quarter shields, the French name LOVIS began to be used. At some point, they realized the mistake they had made and tried to write the entire image text in Latin. However, there are not many copies of eight shields that show the name LVDOVICVS instead of the name LOVIS. After mentioning that eight shields are scarce in any case, I have only found such copies in the years 1613 and 1620.
Silver Eight Shields minted in 1613 at the Donapaleu Mint – 4.78 gr 24.42mm diameter
Obverse: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVA.RX
Ifrentzua: FREE.CALL.SVM.Q.SVM.1613 M (M Izkia Pierre Massalin)
Courtesy of the seller L'Or C'est L'Or
Looking at all the coins analyzed in recent months, I have come to the following conclusion. Over the years, the work of the engravers has been quite homogeneous and repetitive. The images of the cross, the coat of arms or the crown, or the mottos that the image texts illustrate, are repeated in this pattern, with one exception. When working on the last two words of the image text on the obverse, which are the abbreviations of the text NAVARRE REX, they present several variations. It seems that during the working of the different dies, the motto was completed according to the available space available when this position of the mold was reached. As a result of this and after analyzing the different coins, the following variations can be found:
- NAVA.RX
- NAVA.REX
- NAVAR.RX
- NAVA.R.RX
- NAVAR.RE
- NAVAR.REX
- NAVARRE.RX
It's not a small range of variations for two-word abbreviations!
Silver Quarter Shield minted in 1617 at the Donapaleu Mint – 9.40 gr 29.5mm diameter
Found: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVA.R.RX
Address: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.ID:Q.SVM.1617 M (M Izkia Pierre Massalin) M Next to the year
INUMIS, MAIL BID SALE 8, LOT 607 20.03.2009
As we saw in a previous section, Luis did not have his father's religious tolerance and practicality. He inherited the same and, with the support of his advisor and minister Cardinal Richelieu, he instigated numerous conflicts against the French Huguenots during the 1620s. It is known that in one of these he united Bearn and Lower Navarre with the French crown.
The year 1620 is the most important gap in this group of coins; we know of a few specimens that present the mintmark A, but we do not have a confirmed name for the mintmark behind this A. We think it could be Jean Arroque or Joannis d'Anga, but we cannot be sure without calculations. It is notable, however, that this mintmark with the A was issued in the same year as the attack on Bearn, 1620, and that it was not extended to the following years.
Silver Quarter Shield minted in 1620 at the Donapaleu Mint – 9.43 gr. 31.5mm Diameter
Found: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVAR.RX
Ifrentzua: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.ID:Q.SVM.1620A (A Izkia perhaps Jean Arroque or Joannis d'Anga)
Olivier Goujon Numismatique – Live Auction 4 – Lot 104 24.02.2023
Silver eight-leafed shield minted in 1620 at the Donapaleu mint – 4.80 gr. 26 mm Diameter
Found: LVDOVIC.XIII.D:G.FRAN.ET.NAVA.RX
Ifrentzua: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.Q.SVM.1620A (A Izkia perhaps Jean Arroque or Joannis d'Anga)
Collection from Monaco 03.07.2024
But as far as coinage was concerned, both Bearn and Donapaleu remained in their own world; for the next few decades they did not have to report to the “Court de la Monnaie” in Paris, the French coinage court. The flow of coinage was still strong during the 1620s (at least according to preserved accounts), but the number of pieces that have come down to us today is much smaller than in previous decades. In the case of the eight-euro coins, for example, the last piece I have seen can be dated to 1623.
We can assume that both the last religious wars in France and the Thirty Years' War, in which France was about to participate, had a rich contribution of silver crafted in Donapala. And silver that goes to wars does not often come back home.
Silver Quarter Coin minted in 1627 at the Donapaleu Mint
Found: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVAR.RX
Address: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.ID:Q.SVM.1627 F (F Izkia Pierre Fouron or de Foron)
I have examined many coins from this period before writing the present reviews, and some of these will be kept in a small classification that anyone can examine. No doubt more varieties and unknown coins will be revealed to us and will be added to this classification as they are discovered.
Many of the details in the manuscript are the result of the work of the 19th century researcher Jules Adrien Blanchet. Building on Blanchet's work, in the mid-20th century, Françoise Dumas completed and corrected the coinage numbers produced at the mints of Bearn and Donapaleu.
Blanchet's work “Documents pour servir a l'histoire monetaire de la Navarre et du Bearn 1562-1629” gives us the name of the archive documents of the preserved coinage accounts. Dumas' work “Les frappes monétaires en Béarn et Basse-Navarre d'après les comptes conservés aux Archives départementales des Basses Pyrénées” gives us a short list of other documents in addition to the coinage accounts. These include maintenance and repair expenses, letters from the king and others.
With these archive designations, anyone can access the services of the Pyrenees-Atlantiques archive in Pau. Without having to go to Pau, a digitized copy can be received by email at home.
I have requested a couple of coinage books, book B951 which contains the accounts for the years 1614 and 1623, or book B3753 which contains the accounts for the year 1629. Although they are difficult to understand, these account books are interesting.
Heading of the coinage account book for the year 1623 – Archives départementales des Pyrénées‐Atlantiques – Pau – B951
Each pair of pages of the account book usually presents four account entries. Although the account entries may have had different periodicities, we can say that they had an average periodicity of weekly (approximately).
Account entries from mid-October to early November of the account book of 1629 – Archives départementales des Pyrénées‐Atlantiques – Pau – B3753
Let's see what one of these entries says:
Entry in the account book of October 24, 1629 – Archives départementales des Pyrénées‐Atlantiques – Pau – B3753
"On October 24, 1629, the issue of 102 marks of 16 sous and 5 marks of 8 sous was issued, which were struck at a legal tender of 10 dirhams 22 and a half grains. The weight or weight was 25 grains and two fifths of a mark for the 16 sous pieces, and 50 grains and two fifths of a mark for the 8 sous pieces". Finally, a final note appears; in a small box (i.e., "boeyte") were kept the coins corresponding to the quality control, the "diners de boeyte", 10 grains and a half. The hallmarks, Destillart, Dartigues, D'Armagnac, Plassou and Bistergnex or the like, usually guarda, contraguarda, commissario and assayers. These “Diners de boyete” were divided between the assayer and the guard, one, the assayer, who verified the correct silver content of the grains and the other, the guard, who guaranteed the correct weight of the grains.
If we look at this previous account entry, we can see that this entry reflects the production of 2590 quarter escudos and 252 eighth escudos. We can verify that for each frame of production, 25.4 quarter escudos and 50.4 eighth escudos were obtained and these, according to perceived weight and legitimacy values, the coins were minted around the nominal weight. In terms of legality, the value of 10 dinars and 22.5 granas would give us about 911.5 thousandths of a gram today. We can assume that this legality value was within the permitted tolerances or remedies.
Summary entry of the account book of the year 1629 – Archives départementales des Pyrénées‐Atlantiques – Pau – B3753
The last entry in the account book was usually a summary of the quarter and eighth coins minted throughout the year. Here is what was written for the year 1629; 3905 mintings for quarter marks and 148 mintings for eighth marks, that is, 99,187 quarter coins and 7,459 eighth coins. The so-called “diners de boeyte” of 16 shillings seem to be 348 coins, while those of 8 shillings are illegible.
Finally, here is the aforementioned attempt at the coinage of Louis II in Donapaleu!! On Egin!!
1610 1611 1612 1613 1614 1615 1616 1617 1618 1619
1620 1621 1622 1623 1624 1625 1626 1627 1628 1629
1630
Bibliography:
Histoire monétaire du Béarn – Jules Adrien Blanchet – 1893 – link
Documents pour servir a l'histoire monetaire de la Navarre et du Bearn 1562-1629 – Jules Adrien Blanchet – 1886 – link
MONNAIES DE FRANCE, DE NAVARRE ET DU BÈARN – Jean Claude Ungar – 2010
Les frappes monétaires en Béarn et Basse-Navarre d'après les comptes conservées aux Archives départementales des Basses Pyrénées - Françoise Dumas - 1959 - link
LES MONNAIES FRANCAISES ROYALES – Tome 1 et 2 – 2° Edition -1999 -Jean Duplessy (In Memoriam 1929- 2020)
Le livre des monnaies feodales de Béarn et de Navarre – Henri II (III de Navarre) 1572-1589 – Club Numismatique Palois – Serge Salles – link
MINT OF NAVARRE AND BEARN – WIKIPEDIA – link
B951, B3753, B3720, B3658 Archives Documents – Archives départementales des Pyrénées‐Atlantiques – link
1610
Henry III. King of Navarre was assassinated in Paris on May 14, 1610. His son Louis II. King of Navarre was crowned on October 17. The mint accounts show the number of coins minted throughout 1610, and we do not know how many of these bear Henry's name and how many were minted under Louis's name. However, those minted under Louis's name seem to have been minted during December and are therefore scarce (especially the eighth escudos, as I have not found any at the moment). Apart from the mints of Navarre and Bearn, quarter and eighth escudos minted under the name of King Louis appeared in 1611 at the French mints.
IIII – 3018 Marks/76295 pieces VIII – 352 Marks and 4 Ounces/17733 pieces B3474
Silver Quarter Shield minted in 1610 at the Donapaleu Mint – 9.49 gr. 29mm Diameter
Found: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVA.RX
Address: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.ID:Q.SVM.1610 F (F Captain Jehan Du Four)
CGB.FR, E-MONNAIES DÉCEMBRE 2015, LOT 368532 15.12.2015
I have not yet found any eighth shield of the year 1610 engraved under the name of Luis.
1611
We don't have a coin count for this year.
Silver Quarter Shield minted in 1611 at the Donapaleu Mint – 9.57 gr. 29mm Diameter
Found: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVA.RX
Address: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.ID:Q.SVM.1611 F (F Captain Jehan Du Four)
MDC MONACO, E-AUCTION 3, LOT 392 09.04.2022
Since Henry's eighth shield showed the image text HENRI. (an abbreviation of the Latin name HENRICVS), the Navarrese engravers took HENRI as the text of the French name. Accordingly, when they began to work on Louis' eighth shield, they began to use the French name LOVIS.
Silver Eight Shields minted in 1611 at the Donapaleu Mint – 4.72 gr. 23.5mm Diameter
Obverse: LOVIS.XIII.D:Q.FRAN.ET.NAVAR.RX
Ifrentzua: FREE.CALL.SVM.Q.SVM.1611 F (F Captain Jehan Du Four)
INUMIS, MAIL BID SALE 44, LOT 479 05.03.2019
Eight silver shields minted in 1611 at the Donapaleu mint – 4.60 gr. 23.0mm Diameter
Obverse: LOIS.XIII.D:Q.FRAN.ET.NAVAR.REX
Ifrentzua: FREE.CALL.SVM:Q.SVM.1611 (F) (F Captain Jehan Du Four)
INUMIS, PUBLIC AUCTION DECEMBER 2019, LOT 25 10.12.2019 (Includes the set of three coins)
1612
This year marks the arrival of the new mintmaster, Pierre Massalin. Pierre Massalin became mintmaster in May 1612, replacing Jehan du Four, who had been working since 1595.
IIII – 2545 Frames/64430 items VIII – 288 Frames/14487 items B950
This year, I have still been able to find eight shields that feature the F-shaped head of the mintmaster Jehan du Four. Without a doubt, the appearance of quarter shields would also be very likely. Since the head of the mint is located on the edge of the coin, to the right of the crown, many coins do not have clear mintmarks.
Eight Shields of silver minted in 1612 at the Donapaleu mint – 4.61 gr. 24 mm Diameter
Obverse: LOVIS.XIII.D:Q.FRAN.ET.NAVAR.REX
Ifrentzua: FREE.CALL.SVM.Q.SVM.1612 F (F Captain Jehan Du Four)
CGB Sales Archive
Eight Shields of silver minted in 1612 at the Donapaleu mint – 4.73 gr. 24.5 mm Diameter
Found: LOVIS.XIII.D:G.FRAN.ET.NAVARRE.RX
Ifrentzua: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.Q.SVM.1612 F (F Captain Jehan Du Four)
CGB Sales Archive
In the case of those featuring the letter M in Pierre Massalin, quarter shields are abundant and eighth shields, as always, scarce.
Silver Eight Shields minted in 1612 at the Donapaleu Mint – 9.51 gr
Found: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVA.RX
Address: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.ID:Q.SVM.1612 M (M Izkia Pierre Massalin)
JEAN ELSEN & SES FILS SA, AUCTION 142, LOT 1274 14.09.2019
Silver Eight Shields minted in 1612 at the Donapaleu Mint – 9.57 gr 28.9mm
Found: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVAR.RX
Address: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.ID:Q.SVM.1612 M (M Izkia Pierre Massalin)
INUMIS, MAIL BID SALE 43, LOT 436 09.10.2018
Eight Shields of silver minted in 1612 at the Donapaleu mint – 4.75 gr. 23.5 mm Diameter
Found: LOVIS.XIII.D:G.FRAN.ET.NAVAR.REX
Ifrentzua: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.Q.SVM.1612 M (M Izkia Pierre Massalin)
CGB Sale Archive Monnaies 48 (2011)
1613
IIII – 3202 Frames/80942 issues VIII – 417 Frames/20968 issues B950
No noteworthy comments, in the case of the quarter shields. In this case, three different specimens are presented that present variant pictorial texts.
Silver Quarter Shield minted in 1613 at the Donapaleu Mint – 9.46 gr 29mm
Found: LVDOVICVS.XIII:DGFRANC.ET.NAVA.RX
Ifrentzua: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.ID:Q.SVM.1613 M (M Izkia Pierre Massalin)
CGB Auction House archive (2010)
Silver Quarter Ezkutu minted in 1613 at the Donapaleu mint – 9.51 gr
Found: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVAR.RE
Ifrentzua: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.ID:Q.SVM.1613 M (M Izkia Pierre Massalin)
AUREO & CALICÓ SL, AUCTION 378, LOT 3047 14.12.2021
Silver Quarter Ezkutu minted in 1613 at the Donapaleu mint – 9.46 gr
Found: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVAR.RX
Ifrentzua: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.ID:Q.SVM.1613 M (M Izkia Pierre Massalin)
In the case of the eight shields, however, I have found the following remarkable specimen. Instead of using the name LOVIS in the French language, this specimen shows the Latin name LVDOVICVS used by the quarter shields. This is not at all common, as we will see the name LOVIS again on the eight shields in the following years, before returning to the Latin name in the 1620s.
Silver Eight Shields minted in 1613 at the Donapaleu Mint – 4.78 gr 24.42mm diameter
Obverse: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVA.RX
Ifrentzua: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.Q.SVM.1613 M (M Izkia Pierre Massalin)
Courtesy of L'or c'est L'or
1614
IIII – 2181 Frames/55228 issues VIII – 322 Frames/16196 issues B951
In 1614, the mintmaster Pierre Massalin established what would become the hallmark of the quarter-shields minted in Donapala. The mintmaster's hallmark, usually the first letter of the surname, began to be placed after the year, instead of the upper right-hand position of the crown that had been used until then. In this year, a rare specimen with the mintmaster's hallmark above the crown can still be found, such as the eight-shield specimen shown below.
Silver Quarter Shield minted in 1614 at the Donapaleu Mint – 9.42 gr 29mm
Found: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVA.RX
Address: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.ID:Q.SVM.1614 M (M Izkia Pierre Massalin) M Next to the year
MONNAIES D'ANTAN, AUCTION 16, LOT 502 22.11.2014
Silver Quarter Shield minted in 1614 at the Donapaleu Mint – 9.52 gr 29.5mm
Found: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVAR.RX
Address: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.ID:Q.SVM.1614 M (M Izkia Pierre Massalin) M Next to the year
CGB.FR, INTERNET AUCTION JANUARY 2020, LOT 557453 28.01.2020
Silver Quarter Shield minted in 1614 at the Donapaleu Mint – 9.52 gr 30.5mm
Found: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVA.REX
Address: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.ID:Q.SVM.1614 M (M Izkia Pierre Massalin) M Next to the year
CGB Archives 2021
Silver Eight Shields minted in 1614 at the Donapaleu Mint – 4.78 gr 24.42mm diameter
Obverse: LOVIS.XIII.D:G.FRAN.ET.NAVAR.REX
Ifrentzua: FREE.CALL.SVM.Q.SVM.1614 M (M Izkia Pierre Massalin) M Next to the year
PEGASI NUMISMATICS, BUY OR BID SALE 140, LOT 543 – 03.08.2011
Ifrentzua: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.Q.SVM.1614 M (M Izkia Pierre Massalin) M Izkia above the Crown
ALDE, PUBLIC AUCTION OCTOBER 2015, LOT 271 – 26.10.2015 – Lot of two coins
1615
We have no information on the number of coins minted this year; however, both quarter and eighth coins can be found.
Silver Quarter Shield minted in 1615 at the Donapaleu Mint – 9.50 gr 31mm
Found: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVA.RX
Address: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.ID:Q.SVM.1615 M (M Izkia Pierre Massalin) M Next to the year
The last years of the C over the Crown revealed
CGB E-auction 15-3896 2013 July 29
Silver Quarter Shield minted in 1615 at the Donapaleu Mint – 9.57 gr 30.5mm
Found: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVAR.RX
Address: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.ID:Q.SVM.1615 M (M Izkia Pierre Massalin) M Next to the year
The last years of the C over the Crown revealed
CGB Auction House Store
Silver Quarter Shield minted in 1615 at the Donapaleu Mint – 9.34 gr 31mm
Found: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVAR.REX
Address: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.ID:Q.SVM.1615 M (M Izkia Pierre Massalin) M Next to the year
CGB COINS 31 (2007)
Silver Eight Shields minted in 1615 at the Donapaleu Mint – 4.55 gr 23.9mm diameter
Obverse: LOVIS.XIII.D:G.FRAN.ET.NAVAR.REX
Ifrentzua: FREE.CALL.SVM.Q.SVM.1615 M (M Izkia Pierre Massalin) M Next to the year
INUMIS, MAIL BID SALE 43, LOT 437- 09.10.2018
1616
IIII – 2109 Marko/53312 issue VIII – 223 Marko/11207 issue B3559
Silver Quarter Ezkutu minted in 1616 at the Donapaleu mint – 8.96 gr
Found: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVAR.REX
Address: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.ID:Q.SVM.1616 M (M Izkia Pierre Massalin) M Next to the year
JEAN ELSEN & SES FILS SA, AUCTION 137, LOT 959 09.06.2018
Silver Quarter Ezkutu minted in 1616 at the Donapaleu mint – 9.51 gr
Found: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVAR.RX
Address: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.ID:Q.SVM.1616 M (M Izkia Pierre Massalin) M Next to the year
AUCTIONES GMBH, AUCTION #72, LOT 252 20.06.2021
Silver Eight Shields minted in 1616 at the Donapaleu Mint – 4.01 gr 26mm diameter
Obverse: LOVIS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVAR.REX
Ifrentzua: FREE.CALL.SVM.Q.SVM.1616 M?
CGB MONNAIES 33 (2007) Lot 1155
Silver Eight Shields minted in 1616 at the Donapaleu Mint – 4.59 gr diameter
Obverse: LOVIS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVAR.RX
Ifrentzua: FREE.CALL.SVM.Q.SVM.1616 M et C Half Moon – M Izkia Pierre Massalin
The last year of the C letter above the crown?
BNF National Library of France
1617
We don't have a coin count for this year.
Silver Quarter Shield minted in 1617 at the Donapaleu Mint – 9.38 gr 30.5mm diameter
Found: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVAR.RX
Address: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.ID:Q.SVM.1617 M (M Izkia Pierre Massalin) M Next to the year
CGB.FR, COINS 44, LOT 149 17.06.2010
Silver Quarter Shield minted in 1617 at the Donapaleu Mint – 9.40 gr 29.5mm diameter
Found: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVA.R.RX
Ifrentzua: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.IDQ.SVM.1617 M (M Izkia Pierre Massalin) M Next to the year
INUMIS, MAIL BID SALE 8, LOT 607 20.03.2009
Silver Quarter Shield minted in 1617 at the Donapaleu Mint – 8.97 gr 29mm diameter
Found: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVAR.REX
Address: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.ID:Q.SVM.1617 M (M Izkia Pierre Massalin) M Next to the year
MDC MONACO, E-AUCTION 3, LOT 393 09.04.2022
Silver Eight Shields minted in 1617 at the Donapaleu Mint – 4.60 gr 24mm diameter
Obverse: LOVIS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVAR.RX
Ifrentzua: FREE.CALL.SVM.Q.SVM.1617 M (M Izkia Pierre Massalin)
INUMIS, PUBLIC AUCTION DECEMBER 2012, LOT 129 11.12.2012
1618
We don't have a coin count for this year.
Silver Quarter Coin minted in 1618 at the Donapaleu Mint
Found: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVAR.REX
Address: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.ID:Q.SVM.1618 M (M Izkia Pierre Massalin) M Next to the year
AUCTIONES GMBH, AUCTION #72, LOT 254 20.06.2021
Silver Quarter Shield minted in 1618 at the Donapaleu Mint – 9.30 gr 29mm diameter
Found: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVAR.RX
Address: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.ID:Q.SVM.1618 M (M Izkia Pierre Massalin) M Next to the year
The C letter on the crown?
CGB Auction House Store
Silver Eight Shields minted in 1618 at the Donapaleu Mint – 4.80 gr 26.8mm diameter
Obverse: LOVIS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVA.RX
Ifrentzua: FREE.CALL.SVM.Q.SVM.1618 M (M Izkia Pierre Massalin)
1619
IIII – 2005 Marko/50707 issue VIII – 181 Marko/9099 issue B3631
We have accounts for this year, but I have not found any eight-figure coins. Although the numbers worked are down slightly, from now on the appearance of eight-figure coins is extremely rare.
Silver Quarter Shield minted in 1619 at the Donapaleu Mint – 9.56 gr 31.5mm diameter
Found: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVAR.REX
Address: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.ID:Q.SVM.1619 M (M Izkia Pierre Massalin) M Next to the year
CGB Auction House Store
Silver Quarter Shield minted in 1619 at the Donapaleu Mint – 9.45 gr 29mm diameter
Found: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVAR.RX
Address: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.ID:Q.SVM.1619 M (M Izkia Pierre Massalin) M Next to the year
CGB Auction House Store 2012
Silver Eight Shields minted in 1619 at the Donapaleu Mint – 4.69 gr 26mm diameter
Found: LOVIS.XIII.D:G.FRAN.ET.NAVAR.RX
Ifrentzua: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.Q.SVM.1619 M (M Izkia Pierre Massalin)
CGB LIVE AUCTION MARS 2023 Lot 754833
1620
We don't have a coin count for this year.
Silver Quarter Shield minted in 1620 at the Donapaleu Mint – 9.43 gr. 29mm Diameter
Found: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVAR.REX
Address: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.ID:Q.SVM.1620M (M Izkia Pierre Massalin)
Collection from Monaco
Silver Quarter Shield minted in 1620 at the Donapaleu Mint – 9.43 gr. 31.5mm Diameter
Found: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVAR.RX
Ifrentzua: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.ID:Q.SVM.1620A (A Fish maybe Jean Arroque or Joannis d'Anga)
Olivier Goujon Numismatique – Live Auction 4 – Lot 104 24.02.2023
Eight-Eight Silver Shield, minted in 1620 at the Donapaleu Mint – 4.67 gr. 26mm Diameter
Obverse: LVDOVIC.XIII.D:Q.FRAN.ET.NAVAR.RX
Ifrentzua: FREE.CALL.SVM.Q.SVM.1620M (M Izkia Pierre Massalin)
MDC MONACO, E-AUCTION 3, LOT 395 09.04.2022
Silver eight-leafed shield minted in 1620 at the Donapaleu mint – 4.80 gr. 26 mm Diameter
Found: LVDOVIC.XIII.D:G.FRAN.ET.NAVA.RX
Ifrentzua: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.Q.SVM.1620A (A Fish maybe Jean Arroque or Joannis d'Anga)
Collection from Monaco 03.07.2024
1621
The year of the change of mint in Donapaleu was 1621. In addition to the coins minted in the name of Pierre Massalin, there are also coins bearing the letter F of Pierre Fouron. The minting accounts for this year have not come down to us and as a result we do not know in which month the change of mint took place. I have not found any eight-ounce coins in this year.
We don't have a coin count for this year.
Silver Quarter Coin minted in 1621 at the Donapaleu Mint – 9.48 gr.
Found: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVAR.REX
Address: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.ID:Q.SVM.1621M (M Izkia Pierre Massalin)
Numiscorner
Silver Quarter Coin minted in 1621 at the Donapaleu Mint – 9.41 gr.
Found: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVAR.REX
Address: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.ID:Q.SVM.1621 F (F Izkia Pierre Fouron or de Foron)
Poinsignon-Numismatique
1622
We don't have a coin count for this year.
Silver Quarter Shield minted in 1622 at the Donapaleu Mint – 9.50gr 31.5mm Diameter
Found: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVAR.REX
Address: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.ID:Q.SVM.1622 F (F Izkia Pierre Fouron or de Foron)
Cgb sales archive
Silver Quarter Shield minted in 1622 at the Donapaleu Mint – 9.62gr 32mm Diameter
Found: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVAR.RX
Address: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.ID:Q.SVM.1622 (F Izkia is not evident in this specimen)
MONNAIES D'ANTAN, AUCTION 21, LOT 1005 20.05.2017
1623
IIII – 3637 Marks/92347 issues VIII – 237 Marks/11926 issues B951
In his work “Documents pour servir a l'histoire monetaire de la Navarre et du Bearn”, written in 1886, Adrian Blanchet names Jehan du Faur as the mintmaster of Donapaleu in 1623. For this, he uses document B.951, kept in the archives of the Lower Pyrenees, as a basis. After requesting and examining this document B.951, although the name of the mintmaster cannot be clearly read, in my opinion the surname Fouron stands out instead of Faur. Furthermore, document B.3658, which summarizes the expenses of the minting works in 1622, presents Pierre Fouron as the mintmaster of Donapaleu. Consequently, we can say that Jehan de Faur's work as a mintmaster was completed in 1612 and from 1621, Pierre Fouron was the mintmaster at Donapaleu until at least 1629 and probably until the completion of the quarter shields of Louis II, between 1630 and 1632.
Silver Quarter Ezkutu minted in 1623 at the Donapaleu mint – 9.42gr – 92,347 pieces
Found: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVAR.REX
Address: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.ID:Q.SVM.1623 F (F Izkia Pierre Fouron or de Foron)
MA shops
Silver Eight Shields minted in 1623 at the Donapaleu Mint – 4.75 gr 25.5mm diameter
Found: LOVIS.XIII.D:G.FRAN.ET.NAVAR.REX
Address: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.Q.SVM.1623 F (F Izkia Pierre Fouron or de Foron)
CGB LIVE AUCTION MARS 2023 Lot 754839
1624
We don't have a coin count for this year.
Silver Quarter Shield minted in 1624 at the Donapaleu mint – 9.45 gr.
Found: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVAR.REX
Address: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.ID:Q.SVM.1624 F (F Izkia Pierre Fouron or de Foron)
Munzenhandlung Brom
1625
We don't have a coin count for this year.
Silver Quarter Coin minted in 1625 at the Donapaleu Mint – 9.45gr.
Found: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVAR.RX
Address: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.ID:Q.SVM.1625 F (F Izkia Pierre Fouron or de Foron)
EDITIONS V. GADOURY, ONLINE AUCTION 13, LOT 18 20.06.2019
1626
I have no knowledge of the issues of 1626, nor of the minting accounts; but I do have at least one document referring to the mint in this year.
1627
We don't have a coin count for this year.
Silver Quarter Coin minted in 1627 at the Donapaleu Mint – 9.41gr.
Found: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVAR.REX
Address: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.ID:Q.SVM.1627 F (F Izkia Pierre Fouron or de Foron)
PEGASI NUMISMATICS, AUCTION 39, LOT 738 13.11.2018
Silver Quarter Coin minted in 1627 at the Donapaleu Mint
Found: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVAR.RX
Address: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.ID:Q.SVM.1627 F (F Izkia Pierre Fouron or de Foron)
1628
We don't have a coin count for this year.
Silver Quarter Shield minted in 1628 at the Donapaleu Mint – 9.50gr, 28mm Diameter
Found: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVAR.RX
Address: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.ID:Q.SVM.1628 F (F Izkia Pierre Fouron or de Foron)
Winnumis
1629
IIII – 3905 Frames/99164 issues VIII – 148 Frames/7457 issues B3753
Silver Quarter Shield minted in 1629 at the Donapaleu Mint – 9.18gr, 29mm Diameter – 99,164 pieces
Found: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVAR.REX
Address: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.ID:Q.SVM.1629.F (F Izkia Pierre Fouron or de Foron)
MONNAIES D'ANTAN, AUCTION 9, LOT 476 12.05.2011
1630
We don't have a coin count for this year.
Silver Quarter Shield minted in 1630 at the Donapaleu Mint – 9.29gr, 29mm Diameter
Found: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVAR.REX
Address: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.ID:Q.SVM.1630 F (F Fish Pierre Fouron or de Foron)
CGB Sales Archive
Silver Quarter Shield minted in 1630 at the Donapaleu Mint – 9.34gr, 27mm Diameter
Found: LVDOVICVS.XIII.D:G.FRANC.ET.NAVAR.REX
Address: GRATIA.DEI.SVM.ID:Q.SVM.1630 F (F Fish Pierre Fouron or de Foron)
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