Lot 1712

Description

France, Provincial, Besancon (libre ville imperiale), silver teston or eight gros d'argent (8.04 g), struck in the name of Karl V, Holy Roman Emperor, 1519-1558, but dated 1624, obv. laureate, draped, and armored bust of Karl V to left, rev. Coat-of-arms, (Duplessy, F�odales 3065; Poey d'Avant 5414, Boudeau 1288). Near very fine/very fine and rare.

Ex Archer M. Huntington Collection (HSA 1001.1.21927).

In 843 Besancon fell under the control of the Duke of Burgundy following the division of Charlemagne's Empire. Control of the city then passed on to the Holy Roman Empire in 1034, and it later became a prince-bishopric in 1184. Continued struggles with the Duke of Burgundy strained the rule of the Archbishop, with the former ultimately retaking the city during the 15th century. The marriage between Mary of Burgundy and Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I placed control of Besancon back under the empire and now the Habsburgs. During the reign of Charles V (1519-1558), the city's free imperial status was protected and in recognition of this, her coinage continued to bear his portrait into the mid 17th century, long after his abdication and death.