Gros Parisis of Philip III

The Gros Parisis of Philip III was struck from silver sourced from French mines, a rarity in an era when much coinage relied on recycled bullion from conquests.

This coin, minted in Paris between 1270 and 1285, typically bore a simple cross on one side and the king's monogram on the other, reflecting the straightforward aesthetics of the time. We don't know the exact mintage figures; records from that period are scarce, likely destroyed in later conflicts. What we do have are a few surviving examples, showing wear from heavy circulation in markets from Paris to the Loire Valley.

The design aimed for uniformity, which helped curb counterfeiting in a fractious kingdom. Oddly enough, some specimens turn up with mismatched dies, as if the minters were having an off day. That's numismatics for you—imperfect even in perfection.

Variations exist, particularly in the flan quality, but none drastically alter its historical role.