1721-H French Colonies Sou, or 9 Deniers. La Rochelle Mint. Martin 2.36-B.6, W-11830. Rarity-6+. EF-45 (PCGS). 95.0 grains. Satiny deep brown surfaces with lighter steel on the devices. There are a few scattered marks on each side but this piece was struck on a high quality planchet of relatively good metal for the type. Just a few tiny voids and small patches of natural roughness are seen on the reverse. Nicely struck just slightly off center. The obverse legend is fully readable despite portions of some letters being off the planchet while the reverse is all there and quite bold. A solid Choice EF example of the 1721-H 9 deniers and a die variety that is considered to be quite rare. PCGS# 905890. From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier ex American Heritage Minting, January 2008. Plated in the Martin reference "French Coinage Specifically for Colonial America," pp. 252, 320.
