W. C a r e w H a z l i t t Coinage of the European Continent

Descriptive Outline of the Coinages of Europe 503
even in France itself, and the cause in this case may be the
paucity of the original output and the lack of interest in
such memorial of the ancient noblesse on the part of decayed
representatives and in the presence of modified institutions.
On the other hand, exceptional facilities seem to
be afforded to privileged persons by the authorities at the
mint for procuring restrikes of coins of which the dies
instances occur in which
have been preserved, and many
the latter are in private hands, and are periodically multiplied
as necessity requires. 1 The sole advantage accruing
from this otherwise undesirable policy
is that one has the
opportunity of looking upon such a piece as the scudo di oro,
struck by Louis XII. for Naples, in all its pristine freshness. 2
It is next to an impossibility to concentrate in a single
focus the most conspicuous desiderata in such a series,
where the field is so wide, where variety and artistic pretensions
are so marked, and where the baronial or feudal
element is so strong. From the point of view of the
technical numismatist, who studies and cherishes infinitesimal
detail, and discovers there from time to time precious
clues or suggestions, the endeavour might prove hopeless,
while it would perhaps be superfluous ;
but to collectors of
a less severe type it may be neither impracticable nor useless
to note certain items which help to lend importance and
value to an assemblage of these monuments of past ages
on different accounts, yet principally by reason of collateral
associations.
The Merovingian sous d'or of purely French origin with names
and portraits or of special mints.
The deniers and oboles of Pepin le Bref.
The deniers and oboles of Charlemagne (contemporary issues).
The Anglo-Gallic series, especially the gold florin and guiennois
and Anglo-Gallic baronial money.
The gold coinage of Louis IX.
The Franco- Italian and Franco- Spanish series, especially the
former.
1
For example, the silver and copper series of Napoleon II., 1816, and the
5 fr. ,
2 fr. ,
and I fr. of Henry V., 1831-32.
2
Two silver proofs were offered for sale in the Dillon Catalogue, 1892, Nos.
394-95> without a hint as to their character and origin.