Douzain of Louis XIII

The Douzain of Louis XIII was minted in copper to replace debased silver coins, a stopgap measure during the financial crises of the Thirty Years' War.

That decision meant these coins often circulated at face values far above their metal worth, fueling inflation across France. Struck at various mints like Paris and Lyon, they featured the king's bust on one side and a cross on the other, though designs varied by year.

Exact mintage figures are murky; records from that era burned in later fires or were never kept. Still, examples from the 1620s show clear die wear, suggesting high production runs.

As for rarity, most ended up in circulation and melted down. A collector might find one in a dealer's tray, but don't expect it to fetch a fortune.

Planchets were sometimes recycled from scrap metal, including worn foreign coins. That practice kept the mints running, even if it made for uneven strikes.