Charles VIII, 1483

Duplessy 578; Friedberg 319, PCGS graded AU-58

At the age of 13, Charles VIII succeeded his father, Louis XI, as King of France. Greedy for territory beyond the borders of France proper, in 1494, Charles VIII attempted to secure rights to the Kingdom of Naples and undertook a full-scale invasion of Italy in 1494 that began the long series of Italian Wars that continued until 1559. Charles’ forces were only driven out after the formation of the League of Venice united several Italian city-states, Ferdinand of Aragon, the Holy Roman Emperor Maximillian I, and Henry VII of England against them. Charles VIII died unexpectedly in 1498 when he struck his head on the lintel of a door while traveling to watch a tennis game. On the way back from the game he slipped into a coma and died.

Paris. 1st emission, 11 September 1483. (crown) KAROLVS DEI GRA FRAnCORV REX, crowned arms of France, sun above. Reverse: (crown) XPC VInCIT REGnAT ET ImPERAT, cross fleurdelisée.

Ex Gemini XIII (6 April 2017), 503