start page Charles V TOUR :   Nördlingen

Imperial city Besançon

    Part 2 :  Gold coins    
( Part 1 :  Silver coins on the previous page )

A.   Besançon began to issue gold coins in 1541. The coins were of medieval design.


Florin d'or 1580.   Ø ca.21 mm, 3,16 g.   PA - (vgl.5390) ; C/C/K - (vgl. M 6) ; Friedb.72.
MONE - AVREA - BISVN - 1580   //   CAROLVS: V: - IMPERATOR
This gold coin was struck in 1541 (303 pieces), 1543 (152 pieces) and 1548 (245 pieces).
Non of them seem to have survived. Surprisingly this piece from 1580 turned up.

B.   Pistoles with the head of Charles V
King Philipp II introduced the "Pistole" (double Spanish escudo) in 1566. It is also called a double ducat.
Initially, it held 6,20 g gold. For the half pistole, the term "pistolet" (small pistol) was introduced.
(Poey d'Avant's uses, "2 pistolets" equal "1 pistole". Unfortunately, he is often misquoted when "pistole" and "pistolet" are confused).
Reference values for the weight :   2 pistoles : 13 g   /   1 pistole : 6,5 g   /   1/2 pistole : 3,3 g.

B1.   First series with the emperor's head: 2, 1, 1/2 Pistoles, 1566-1595


1/2 pistole 1566.     Ø ca.22 mm, 3,31 g.   C/C/K M3/1566; Friedb.75.
Obv.:   MONE:AVREA:CIVI:BISVN:I566   -   crowned double eagle with the city's coat of arms.
Rev.:   + CAROLVS:V:IMPERATOR   -   laureted head to the right.
This 1/2 pistole is the first coin of this serie. It was issued in 1566 and 1578.


Pistole 1580.     Ø 24 mm, 6,63 g.   C/C/K M2/1580 ; Friedb. zu 74.
Obv.: MONE.AVREA:CIVI:BISVNTINE:I580  -  crowned double eagle with shines, arms on the breast.
Rev.:   + CAROLVS:QVINTUS:IMPERATOR   -   unusual head poise.
A double strike has flawed the legends and the inner circles.
These pistoles were coined with head variants from 1578 to 1580, in 1582 and in 1595.


2 pistoles 1579.     Ø 32 mm, 13,26 g.   C/C/K M1/1579 ; Friedb.73.
Obv.:   ¤ MONE.AVREA:CIVI:BISVNTINE:I579   -   double eagle and arms as before.
Rev.:   + CAROLVS:QVINTVS:IMPERATOR   -   laureated head.
These double pistoles were coined with head variants from 1578 to 1580 and in 1582.
(In 2010, such a 2 pistoles coin was offered as "4 Pistolets 1579 - Ø 32,5-33,5 mm, 13,29 g" in the USA.)


2 pistoles 1582.     Ø 29 mm, 13,18 g.   C/C/K M1/1582; Friedb.73.
On a small flan, maybe in order to adjust the weight of the coin.

B2.   Pistoles with the emperor's head from the first half of the 17th century


Pistole 1639.     Ø ca.27 mm, 6,59 g.   C/C/K M2/1639; Friedb.-.
+ MONE·AVREA·CIVI·BISVNTINÆ·1639   //   + CAROLVS·V✿IMPERATOR
Here the head turns to the left for once. The coin is struck on an irregular flan.
It is probably one of the last hammer punched gold coins.

B3.   Series with standardized head design
Coinage was probably done mechanically, maybe using a "Balancier".
The series consists of these nominal values: 1/2 pistole (1652-53) and pistole (1664, 1666, 1673).
Besançon now is called "imperial city" (CIVITATIS IMPERIALIS) on her gold coins.


1/2 pistole 1653.     Ø ca.21 mm, 3,29 g.   C/C/K M3/1653; Friedb.75.
✿ MON·AVRea·CIVITatis·IMPerialis·BISVNTINÆ·I653  //  ✿ CAROLVS·V· - IMPERATOR·AVGustus
See at the end of the page for the final coin of this edition.

C.   Ducats for international trade: 1641-1656


Ducat 1649.     Ø 21 mm, 3,41 g.   PA -; C/C/K M4/1649; Friedb.78.
Obv.:   The cartouche reads: DVCATVS / ·CIVIT· / BISVNT / AD·LEG· / IMP·1649
Rev.: CAROLVS * V - * - IMPERATOR  -  crowned statue in suit of armor and with scepter and orb.
This ducat was issued in 1641-45, in 1647, 1649, 1654 and in 1656.

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1/2 ducat 1655.     Ø 17 mm, 1,71 g.   PA 5420; C/C/K M5/1655; Friedb.79.
Obv.:   Cartouche: DVCATVS / ·CIVIT· / BISVNT / AD·LEG / IMP·1655
Rev.: CAROLVS * V - * - IMPERATOR  -  Statue as above.
Coined only in 1655, when the city decided to issue half ducats in order to facilitate trade.

D.   Pistoles showing the emperor standing upright


Pistole 1664.     Ø 28 mm, 6,92 g.   C/C/K vgl. M2/1662; Friedb. zu 76 (1662).
struck with the die of the 1/4 thaler.
Obv.:   MONETA·CIVITatis·IMPerialis·BISVNTINAE·
Double eagle with crown and shine, shield with the coat of arms on its breast.
Rev.:   CAROLVS QVINTus - * - ROManorum·IMPERATor·
Crowned statue in suit of armor with scepter, orb and sword in between the date 16 - 64.


3 Pistoles 1666.   Ø 30 mm, 18,66 g.   C/C/K cf. M1/1666; Friedb. (cf.75a, shown as 2 Pistoles).
Obv.:   MONETA·CIVIT IMPER·BISVNTINÆ   -   Double eagle as before.
Rev.:   CAROLVS QVINT· - * - ROM·IMPERATOR   -   Crowned statue as before.
This specially minted coin does not adhere to the dual mint system.

E.   The last gold coin from the imperial city of Besançon


Pistole 1673.     Ø 24 mm, 6,61 g.   C/C/K M2/1673; Friedb.74.
✠ MONETA·CIVIT·IMP·BISVNTINAE·1673   //   ✿ ·CAROLVS·QVINT·ROM·IMPERATOR·
This pistole was issued in 1664, in 1666 and for the last time in 1673.
Compare this piece with 1/2 Pistole 1653 above under B1.

back to Part 1 :  silver coins from Besançon

upgraded 10.2015

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