FRANCE. Charles V. (King, 1364-1380). (1364-80) AV Franc a Pied. NGC MS64. 3.79gm. Charles standing facing within portico, holding sword and scepter surmounted by Hand of Justice; seven lis to left and right / Voided short cross potent over cross fleurée; at center, pellet within polylobe; lis and crown alternating in angles; all within polylobe, with lis in each spandrel. Friedberg 284; Duplessy 360; Ciani 457. Well struck and rare in this mint state condition.

Charles V (21 January 1338 – 16 September 1380), called the Wise, was a monarch of the House of Valois who ruled as King of France from 1364 to his death. Charles became regent of France when his father John II was captured by the English at the Battle of Poitiers in 1356. To pay the ransom, Charles raised taxes. As a result, he faced hostility from the nobility, led by Charles the Bad, the opposition of the French bourgeoisie, and with peasant revolts known as Jacqueries. Charles overcame all of these rebellions. Charles became king in 1364. With the help of talented advisers known as the Marmousets, his skillful management of the kingdom allowed him to replenish the royal treasury and to restore the prestige of the House of Valois. He established the first permanent army paid with regular wages. Led by Bertrand du Guesclin, the French Army was able to turn the tide of the Hundred Years' War to Charles' advantage, and by the end of Charles' reign, they had reconquered almost all the territories ceded to the English in 1360. Furthermore, the French Navy, led by Jean de Vienne, managed to attack the English coast for the first time since the beginning of the Hundred Years' War. Charles V died in 1380. He was succeeded by his son Charles VI, whose disastrous reign allowed the English to regain control of large parts of France.

Additional Rarity: A Charles V (1364-80) gold Franc à pied ND MS65 NGC sold at auction on August 8, 2014 for $9,400.

1928 A AR 5 Reichsmark

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