Double Tournois: The Standard Small Coin of France

Illustrated Specimen Details: Double Tournois

Example Specimen: Double Tournois, 1639 (Kingdom of France)

Authority & Identification: This copper coin is a standard Double Tournois issued in 1639 during the reign of Louis XIII, King of France and Navarre. The obverse features the regal portrait of the monarch, identified by the inscription "LOYS XIII R DE FRAN ET NAV" (Louis XIII, King of France and Navarre). The reverse showcases the three golden heraldic lilies (fleur de lys), the primary monarchical symbol of France, accompanied by the inscription "DOVBLE TOVRNOIS. 1639.". This specific denomination was minted in massive quantities across multiple French mints, serving as a pillar of the local monetary system for over a century.

1. KINGDOM OF FRANCE (13th-17th centuries): double tournois = 2 denier
2. FRENCH REGIONAL ISSUES (14th-17th centuries) — Principality of Arches-Charleville, Principality of Boisbelle-Henrichemont, Duchy of Brittany, Duchy of Burgundy, Principality of Château-Regnault, Principality of Dombes, Principality of Orange, Comtat Venaissin: double tournois = 2 denier
3. GERMAN STATES (17th century) — County of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort: double tournois

DOUBLE TOURNOIS as a coin name. The Double Tournois was a historical billon and later copper French coin produced throughout the 13th-17th centuries. Before the introduction of the franc in 1795, the primary monetary unit of France was the livre. The livre tournois, originating from the city of Tours, consisted of 20 sous or 240 denier tournois. The name "double tournois" explicitly defined the coin's value as exactly two denier tournois. This coin serves as a crucial artifact in understanding the evolution of the French monetary system, from high-quality silver denominations to the widespread use of fiduciary copper coinage.

History and Evolution of the Double Tournois

The Shift in Monetary Standards

The evolution of the Double Tournois reflects the broader economic history of the Kingdom of France. Initially, in the 13th century, a high-quality silver gros tournois dominated the market. However, monarchs such as Philip IV initiated the emission of lower-quality billon coins, including the Double Tournois, as a fiscal necessity. These coins officially represented a specific denomination, even as their intrinsic silver value declined. This practice became entrenched in the French monetary system. By the reign of Henry III in the late 16th century, the state successfully transitioned from billon to copper production, a shift that became permanent during the 17th century, particularly under the reign of Louis XIII.

Role in the Daily Economy

Throughout the early modern period, the Double Tournois functioned as the "bread and butter" currency of the French population. It sat at the lowest end of the hierarchy that included the sol and the livre. As a fiduciary coin, its value was supported by royal decree rather than its copper content alone. During the 17th century, the influx of Swedish copper allowed for the massive production of these coins, making them indispensable for small daily transactions, such as purchasing market goods or paying wages. Even as later denominations like the liard, equal to three deniers, gained prominence under Louis XIV, the Double Tournois remained a fixture of the circulation.

Numismatic Significance and Archaeological Context

Today, the Double Tournois is one of the most frequently discovered hammered copper coins in modern numismatic collections. Its presence is not limited to mainland France; it served as a key currency in colonial territories, including New France in North America. For archaeologists, these coins are invaluable tools for dating historical strata in both domestic and colonial sites. The standardized design, typically featuring the royal monogram or name on the obverse and a cross on the reverse, provides a clear chronological marker. Because they were minted in large quantities and used across all social strata, they remain the most accessible and representative coinage of the French royal monetary system of the 17th century.