FRANCE - LOUIS XIII - 1/2 FRANC 1629 TOULOUSE - NGC AU58

Louis XIII (1610-1643), 1/2 franc 1629, struck at Toulouse.

Obverse: laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Louis XIII right, legend LVDOVICVS XIII D G FR ET NAV REX. Below the bust, mint letter M (Toulouse). Reverse: cross fleurdelisée and fleuronnée, crowned L at the centre, legend SIT NOMEN DOMINI BENEDICTVM and date 1629.

Irregular planchet, very minor weaknesses of strike. Light grey toning with golden highlights. Very rare in this state of preservation, one of the finest examples known. About Uncirculated.

Note: the silver francs and half francs of Louis XIII circulated heavily before being largely melted down in the course of the monetary reforms of the 17th century. Survivors in high grade are consequently rare, which makes the quality of this example all the more significant.