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Imperial city Besançon
The city in eastern Burgundy (Franche Comté, i.e. free county of Burgund) was the Roman "Vesontio". In 888 it came to the Kingdom of Upper Burgundy, which became part of the German Empire through marriage in 1032/34. Besançon became an imperial city and flourished under Charles V and Philip II. In 1678, it finally passed to France.
Charles V granted the city the right of coinage. That's why all its coins refer to Charles V. The city minted between 1537 and 1673.



Carolus, 1543.     Ø 19mm   1,32g     B.1292 ; C.C.K.M15/1543a
Obv.:   +MONEta:CIVItatis:BISVNTINE:  -  city's coat of arms (eagle with pillars), date above
Rev.:   +CAROLVS:V:IMPERAROR  -  crowned bust



Double Schautaler, n. d. (1570).   Ø 47mm   65,7g   Dav.A8941
Obv.:   + DEO:ET:CESARI:FIDELIS:PERPETVO  -  coat of arms of the city
"Constantly faithful to God and the Emperor"
Rev.:   CAROLVS:V: - IMPERATOR  -  crowned bust, lion head at the shoulder



2 Pistoles 1579.   Ø 32mm   13,2g   Fb.73
Obv.:   ¤ MONE . AVREA : CIVI : BISVNTINE : 1579
imperial double eagle with shines, city's coat of arms as breast shield
Rev.:   + CAROLVS : QVINTUS : IMPERATOR.  -  laureled head



1/2 Thaler, 1641.     Ø 34mm   15g   Poey d'Avant 5412
Obv.:   +MONETA:CIVItatis:IMPerialis:BISVNTINÆ 1641  -  city's coat of arms
Rev.:   +CAROLVS·V·IMPERATOR  -  bust, lion head at the shoulder



Thaler, 1659.     Ø 41mm   29,0g   Dav.5070
MONETA·CIVIT·IMPER·BISVNTINÆ   //   CAROLVS·QVINT - ROM·IMPERATOR
Obv.:   crowned double eagle with shines, city's coat of arms as breast shield
Rev.:   Emperor in armour with sceptre and orb standing between the year date 16 - 59



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