French Crusader coin - Tours France - Circa (1290-1295) "Gros Tournois"
$875
Denomination: 12 Deniers
Reign: King Louis IX
Mint: Tours Date: Circa 1290-1295
Weight: 4.1 grams
Grade: Choice Fine
Mount: Mounted in Sterling Silver
Metal: Silver
Description: Obverse: Features a stylized castle (the Châtel Tournois) and the legend naming the city of Tours, where the coins were struck. On the rim, a Latin inscription reads“BNDICTV:SIT:NOME:DNI:NRI:DEI:IHV:XPI”. Meaning ‘blessed be the name of our lord Jesus Christ. Reverse: Features an ornate cross surrounded by a decorative border of 12 lilies (lis) representing the 12 deniers
History: The gros tournois (or "gross of Tours") was a pioneering medieval French silver coin introduced in 1266 by King Louis IX (Saint Louis). Worth 12 deniers, it was one of the first heavy, high-purity silver coins north of the Alps and quickly became a highly stable international currency. Louis IX designed the coin upon returning from the Seventh Crusade to unify feudal currencies and boost the expanding economy. The distinctive 12-lis border was implemented to prevent counterfeiters and criminals from clipping or scraping silver off the edges. It was also thought to represent the exchange rate of 12 deniers
RM122