425, Lot: 677. Estimate $1000. Sold for $850. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

FRANCE, Royal. Henri I. 1031–1060. AR Denier (22mm, 1.28 g, 2h). Paris mint. Struck circa 1040-1060. HΛNIRICVS REX, A ω suspended from above / PΛISIVS CIVITΛS, cross pattée. Duplessy 16 var. (obv. legend); Lafaurie 25; Ciani 33; Roberts 2221. VF, toned, typical areas of weak strike. Very rare, only 6 in CoinArchives.

From the BRN Collection, purchased from Andy Singer, July 2005.

Henri, the son of Robert II and Constance d'Arles, was born in Reims in 1008. Upon his succession after Robert's death in 1031, Constance, claimed parts of the kingdom for Henri's younger brother, Robert, and revolted along with many nobles. Henri appealed for help from other vassals, particularly Robert the Magnificent of Normandie, who gladly gave him their support. Within a year, Constance was defeated, and Robert was given the duchy of Burgundy in compensation for his loyalty. From 1033-1044, Henri was mainly embroiled in conflict against the house of Blois. After the successful conclusion of these hostilities to the south and east, Henri's attention turned to the north. At the time, Guillaume (the later William I of England), heir of Henri's supporter, Robert of Normandie, was very young and his weak position was explioted by his own vassals who attempted a revolt. In 1047, Henri secured the duchy for Guillaume in a decisive victory near Caen. Shortly thereafter, though, Henri came to fear Guillaume's growing power after the Norman married the daughter of the count of Flanders, and attempted to take the duchy twice, in 1054 and 1058, but was defeated on both occasions. Henri died on August 4, 1060 in Vitry-en-Brie, France, and was interred in the basilica at Saint Denis.