Illustrated Specimen Details: Florette

Example Specimen: Florette, 1417-1421 — Kingdom of France (Charles VI)

This billon coin was struck during the turbulent final years of the reign of Charles VI (known both as "the Beloved" and "the Mad"). The obverse features three fleur-de-lis under a trefoil crown, surrounded by the legend + KAROLVS: FRANCORV: REX (Charles, King of the Franks).

The reverse displays a cross with lily-shaped terminals (fleur-de-lis) and crowns in two of its quarters. The inscription reads + SIT: NOME: DNI: BENEDICTV ("Blessed be the name of the Lord"). This particular specimen was produced at the Angers mint, identified by the "point secret" — a small dot placed under the 11th letter of the legends (the "N" in FRANCORV and the "B" in BENEDICTV).

Issuer: Kingdom of France (Charles VI)
Denomination: Florette
Date: 1417-1421
Metal: Silver (billon)
Weight: 2.75 g  |  Diameter: 28 mm
Estimated Value: 75$
DENOMINATION GUIDE — WHERE & WHEN (world coins catalog)
  1. KINGDOM OF FRANCE (15th century): florette = 20 denier
  2. FRENCH REGIONAL ISSUES (Duchy of Brittany...; 15th century): florette
Florette obverse point secret Florette reverse point secret

Historical Overview of the Florette

Etymology: The name florette (or gros florette) is the diminutive of the French fleur ("flower"), literally meaning "little flower." This refers to the prominent fleur-de-lis (heraldic lilies) that dominate the coin's design.

The florette was a significant denomination of the late Middle Ages, introduced by Charles VI in 1417. Its creation was not a sign of prosperity but a direct consequence of the catastrophic Hundred Years' War. Following the crushing defeat at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, the French crown faced a total economic collapse. The traditional silver gros was replaced by the florette — a billon coin with a rapidly declining silver content.

Currency of a Divided Kingdom

The florette serves as a vivid illustration of a fractured France. While Charles VI issued these coins from Valois-controlled mints like Angers, his rival, the English King Henry V (who claimed the French throne), also minted his own version of the florette in Rouen after the Treaty of Troyes. This period of "monetary warfare" saw both sides debasing their coins to fund their military campaigns, leading to a situation where late-issue florettes contained more copper than silver, often appearing dark or even reddish today.

The "Point Secret" System

A fascinating technical feature of this era was the point secret (secret dot) system. Because France had dozens of mints, and their names were not explicitly written on the coins, royal inspectors needed a way to track quality. By placing a tiny dot under a specific letter in the circular legend, they could identify the source.

For example, in the 15th-century system:

  • Angers: 11th letter position.
  • Paris: 18th letter position.
  • Lyon: 14th letter position.
Counting always began from the initial cross at the top of the coin. This "hidden in plain sight" marking allowed the Valois administration to maintain a level of accountability even as the silver purity was being systematically reduced to pay for the defense of the kingdom.

Symbolism: The Lily and the Florin

Though functionally different, the name florette carried a strong symbolic resonance with the famous gold florin of Florence. Both names celebrate the flower (lily), which was a symbol of purity and divine right. By naming this debased billon coin after the "flower," the French monarchy attempted to give a sense of legitimacy and traditional value to a currency that was losing its intrinsic worth. It was a piece of medieval economic propaganda, wrapped in the sacred imagery of the fleur-de-lis.