1658-A French Colonies 6 Deniers. Billon. Gadoury-84, Ciani-1978, Breen-275. MS-62 (PCGS). 27.8 grains. A stunning example of this American-related rarity. Perfectly centered and crisply struck, with bold denticles framing both sides. Lustrous, original, and attractive, with mottled light silver gray surfaces showing the diverse range of tones associated with high grade billon. The reverse cross is in such high relief that it manifests on the obverse, most prominently in the center of the crown. Some very minor hairlines are seen on the reverse, but no significant flaws are noted on either side.<p><p>John Ford lacked this type entirely, and very few appear on the market. The listings of this type have been rife with errors. Ciani got this issue right. Duplessy got close, but messed up the weights, assigning the douzains the weight of the sizains (1.854 grams) and assigning the sizains a weight thats too light by half. This has confused almost everyone, including NGC (who certified both the Partrick and Dittmer sizains as douzains), other auction houses, and more, most of whom have either called standard weight sizains douzains or "piedforts," when in fact they are just pieces struck at the standard weight. The weight of this piece is 1.80 grams. Others sold in recent years have weighed 1.85 grams, 1.83 grams, 1.85 grams, and a single lightweight oddball at 1.59 grams. We record just seven coins at public auctions in the last 20 years. The only one nicer than this was the Partrick coin, graded MS-63 (NGC), which brought $6,600 in March 2021. PCGS# 151016. From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier from Heritages sale of January 2004, lot 14595; Anthony Terranova, via Mike Wierzba, January 2008.
