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COIN

Unique ID: SF-8F7F66

Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow status: Awaiting validation

A silver French Gros Tournois likely to be of Philip III, 1270-1285, or Philip IV, 1285-1314. This example is slightly worn and appears to have been clipped. [France] The Gros Tournai was introduced in 1266 by Louis IX, it was the first heavy silver coin to be struck north of the Alps. It was of pure silver weighed 4.22g and was worth exactly 12 deniers tournois. Its design was basically that of the denier, but the chatel side was surrounded with a border of 12 ovoids each containing a fleur de lis- the number was perhaps intended to indicate the value-and the cross side by a religious invocation. The Gros Tournois was a success, it was minted in huge quantities by St Louis and his two successors, Philip III and Philip IV (Gierson, 1991, 114-115).

Subsequent actions

Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder

Chronology

Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1270
Date to: Circa AD 1314

Dimensions and weight

Quantity: 1
Weight: 3.2 g

Discovery dates

Date(s) of discovery: Thursday 1st September 2005

Personal details

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Materials and construction

Primary material: Silver

Coin data (numismatics)

Denomination: Uncertain
Obverse description: Cross
Obverse inscription: PHILIPPVS REX//BENEDICTV [SIT NOMEN DNI NRI DEI REXPI]
Reverse description: Chatel with border of twelve ovoids with fleur de lis within them.
Reverse inscription: TVRONVS CIVIS
Initial mark: Cross pattee

Coin references

No coin references available.

Spatial metadata

Region: Eastern (European Region)
County or Unitary authority: Norfolk (County)
District: Breckland (District)
To be known as: Thetford

Spatial coordinates

Grid reference source: From a paper map
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.

Discovery metadata

Method of discovery: Other chance find
General landuse: Other
Specific landuse: Garden

References cited

Author	Publication Year	Title	Publication Place	Publisher	Pages	Reference
Grierson, P.	1976	Coins of Medieval Europe		Barrie and Jenkins	114-115

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Timeline of associated dates

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Audit data

Recording Institution: SF
Created: 18 years ago
Updated: 13 years ago

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