First King of the Valois Dynasty
Philippe VI (reigned 1328–1350) was the first king of the Valois dynasty, which ruled France until 1589.
He came to the throne after the death of Charles IV, the last Capetian king in the direct male line.
Since Charles IV left no male heir, the French nobility applied the Salic law, which excluded women from inheriting the throne.
This prevented Edward III of England, the nephew of Charles IV through his mother, from claiming the crown.
Instead, the French nobility chose Philippe VI, a nephew of Philip IV (Charles IV’s father) and the son of Charles of Valois.
His reign was marked by military failures and economic difficulties, but he established the Valois dynasty, which would rule France for over 250 years.
His son, Jean II (John II) the Good, succeeded him in 1350.
During his reign, several types of coins were minted, such as:
Gold Coins:
- Écu d’or: A gold coin featuring a shield with the fleurs-de-lis.
- Chaise d’or: Depicts the king seated on a throne, holding a sword and shield.
- Franc à cheval (introduced later in the Hundred Years’ War, but some early forms appeared).
Silver Coins:
- Gros tournois: A large silver coin with a cross on one side and the castle of Tours on the other.
- Denier tournois: A small denomination used in everyday transactions.
- Billon Coins (Low-Silver Alloy).
- Double tournois: A lower-value currency used widely in trade.
- Petit denier: A small coin for minor transactions.
His coins often depicted the king enthroned, crosses, and coats of arms reflecting the early Valois rule.
Common inscriptions included “PHILIPPVS REX FRANCORVM” (Philip, King of the Franks).
France Philippe VI – Florin Georges – 2ème émission 1346 – Montreuil Bonnin SPL / PCGS MS 63
118,500.00 US$
Material: Gold
Weight: 4.74 g – Diameter: 29.00 mm
PCGS Certification number: 49960463
Major Variety: Dup-257A Fr-272
Rarity: Extremely rare, GEM condition
Exceptional coin missing from most major collections, of outstanding rarity. Very beautiful golden patina. Splendid specimen. Coin certified PCGS MS 63. Top population. Highest grade. This is a highly rare second issue, featuring the four small shields of France on the reverse and with central motifs on the obverse that no longer extend into the legend. The Florin Georges, also known under various names such as Denarius ad sanctum Georgium, Flourin de Sainct Jourge, or Saint Georges, was a coin issued to finance a military expedition to Brittany, and later Aquitaine, where the heir to the throne led his first campaigns. This piece pays tribute to Saint George, the patron saint of warriors, who is depicted on the obverse. The first minting of this coin took place at the Monnaie d’Angers. A second issue was ordered by John, Duke of Normandy, the eldest son of the King of France, and decreed on April 27, 1346. This series was struck at a rate of 52 coins per marc, with a theoretical weight of 4.706 g, a purity of 24 carats, and a face value of 20 sous tournois. Obverse: + PHILIPPVSx: DEIx GRACIAx FRANCORVMx REX. Saint George, wearing armor and a helmet, riding left on horseback. He carries a shield adorned with a cross and brandishes a lance, which he thrusts into the mouth of the dragon lying at his horse’s feet. The design is embellished with fleur-de-lis within a polylobe. Reverse: + XP’Cx VINCITx XP’Cx REGNATx XP’Cx IMPERAT. A quadrilobed and fleuronnée cross, within a quadrilobe adorned with leaves, flanked by four shields of France.
References: Dy. 257A – Fr.272.
France Double d’Or 1328-1350 Philippe VI NGC MS62
18,200.00 US$
Material: Gold
Weight: 6.77 g – Diameter: 34.00 mm
Catalog: Duplessy 253
NGC Certification number: 6645087-002
Nominal value: 2RD’OR
Mint Mark: FRANCE
Philip VI, seated frontally in a Gothic arch, holding a short scepter surmounted by a fleur-de-lis in his right hand and a cruciform scepter in his left hand., Leafy, flowery cross, cantoned by four crowns, four-leaf clover within a quatrefoil angled in the heart; all within a leafy, flowery angled quatrefoil., Graded NGC MS 62. Wonderful speciment of the rare double of gold of Philippe VI of Valois, in a superb state of conservation and having kept a part of its original luster! The flan is very slightly veiled and we notice a small defect of flan at the level of the king’s leg, also visible on the reverse on the left of one of the arms of the cross. First emission, authorized 6 April 1340., × Ph’ : DEI : GRA × × FRAn’C : RЄX × [triple annulet stops], + : XP’C : VIИCIT : XP’C : RЄGИΛT : XP’C : IMPЄRΛT [double pellet-in-annulet stops]
NGC certificate number: 6645087-002
France 1328 Philip VI of Valois 1328-1350 d’OR EF
4,310.00 US$
Weight 4.19 g.
Catalog: Dup. 247
Philippe VI de Valois 1328-1350 Royal d’Or a/ Ph’s Rex Fra’ cor the king standing under a gothic canopy, crowned, holding the scepter
R/ XPC Vincit etc quadrilobed cross, leaved and fleurdelised cantonne of four crowns gold metal year 1328
France Ecu d´Or n.d. ( 1337 ) EF
4,255.00 US$
Material: Gold
Catalog: Friedberg 270
France Gros Parisis Philip VI Of Valois s.l. n.d. XF
2,375.00 US$
Weight: 4.67 g – Diameter 31.5 mm 6h
Material: Billon
Catalog: C.294 L.264 L.264 Dy.260
PHILIP VI OF VALOIS Gros parisis n.d. s.l. R3 billon
Obverse: + PhILIPPVS REX FRANCO; outer legend: + BnDICTV: SIT: nOmE: DNI: nRI: DEI: IhV: XPI, (punctuation by three superimposed dots) Cross quartered at the 2nd and 3rd points of a lily diverging from the center
Reverse: + PARISIVS° CIVIS[°] ARGEnTI; outer border of fifteen FRANCO/PhI lilies in two lines under a crown Pedigree: With its export certificate no. 240755 issued by the French Ministry of Culture. Commentary: This gros parisis is struck on a wide and slightly warped flan with a split. Heterogeneous gray patina with small spots in the reverse field
1349 Philippe VI – Piéfort De Billon Du Double Parisis VF
970.00 US$
Material: Billon
Weight: 5.92 g – Diameter: 22.00 mm
Catalog: L.272 c v
Obverse legend: PHILIPPVS° REX
Obverse description: FRAN/CORV in the field.
Reverse legend: + MONETA° DVPLEX
Reverse description: Latin cross.
Piéfort showing regular and uniform wear. Very fine.
125.00 US$
Material: Silver
Weight: 1.68 gr.
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