Henri IV, 1596

Duplessy 1203; Friedberg 394, PCGS graded AU-53

Despite his new Catholicism, Henri IV did not forget his Protestant past and issued the Edict of Nantes in 1598. This decree granted a great degree of tolerance to the Huguenots and promoted a civil unity over religious unity in the kingdom. Nevertheless, his attempts to reconcile the religious divisions tearing France apart made him many enemies. Some Catholics still saw him as a heretical usurper notwithstanding his recognition by the Pope in 1595 while many Huguenots and his former Protestant allies considered him a traitor. During his reign, Henri IV escaped at least twelve known assassination attempts, but his luck ran out for the thirteenth, which took place on May 14, 1610. When his coach was stopped in Paris gridlock while travelling to the coronation of his queen, a Catholic fanatic named François Ravaillac ran up and stabbed him to death.

Aix-en-Provence, 2nd type. (sun) HENRICVS · IIII · D · G · FRANC · ET · NAVA · REX · , crowned arms of France. Reverse: + CHRS · VINCIT · CHRS · REGNAT · CHRS · I(MP) 1596, cross fleurdelisée with arms composed of H’s.

Ex Maison Palombo (21 November 2015), 255