Double Tournois

The Double Tournois was one of the most counterfeited coins in 16th-century France, turning everyday transactions into a gamble for merchants and peasants alike.

Struck primarily in copper, these coins weighed about two grams and featured a simple design: a cross on one side, often with the king's initials, and the denomination on the other. Minters produced them in cities like Paris and Lyon, using whatever metal was handy, including recycled pots or tools. That kept costs down, but it also meant quality varied wildly from one piece to the next.

We don't know exact mintage figures; records from that era are spotty, with many lost to time or revolution. Still, I've handled thousands over the years, from barely worn examples to ones that look like they'd been through a war. They were the workhorse of the French economy, quietly facilitating trade while kings came and went.

If you're after rarity, look elsewhere; these turn up in every other dig.