The gold sources for the 1360
#franc (franc à cheval), in chronological order, integrating all previous details without omission:Background of the monetary system before the
#franc 8th century (Carolingian era under
#Charlemagne): Introduction of the livre (pound) as the basic ally representing the value of approx. 367–489 grams of silver).
The system was duodecimal: 1 livre = 20 sou/sol = 240 denier.
This remained the foundation of the French monetary system for centuries. Gold coins were minted rarely and in limited quantities at this time; silver dominated. ( Because they did' t have any..)
13th century🌪: The livre tournois (Tour livre) became dominant (minted in Tours, considered more stable and of better quality).
Under Louis IX (Saint Louis), around 1266, the gros tournois silver coin appeared. Gold coins such as the écu also circulated but in limited amounts. Gold sources already relied on international trade.
1320s–1340s: Flourishing of
#gold mining in the Kingdom of Hungary, especially in
#Kremnica
(#Körmöcbánya, today Slovakia) and the
#Carpathian Mountains under Charles I (Robert) of
#Anjou. Annual output reached approx. 1,400–2,250 kg of
#gold. Between 1300 and 1500, Hungary produced an estimated 450,000–500,000 kg, representing up to 60% of
#world
#gold production in that period.
#Hungarian
#gold florins (forints) became widely accepted across Europe and were channeled westward through Italian (Florentine, Genoese)
#bankers🤢
1324–1330s: Significant influx of gold from Wes
t #Africa (Mali Empire and earlier Ghana). Trans-Saharan caravan routes transported gold from mines in the western and centra
l #Sudan (e.g., Bambuk, Bure regions) to North Africa (Morocco, Egypt), then to Italy and France. Mansa Musa's pilgrimage to Mecca (1324–25) demonstrated the scale, flooding Cairo with gold .
1348–1350s:
The Black Death (plague) and the early phase of the Hundred Years' War disrupted mining and trade, leading to early signs of bullion famine (gold shortage). Nevertheless, Hungarian and African sources continued to supply gold.
Direct context of the 1360 franc 1356: Battle of Poitiers – King John II (Jean le Bon) of France captured by the English (led by the Black Prince). Massive ransom demanded (initially 4 million, then reduced to 3 million écus, equivalent to roughly 12.5 tonnes of gold).
1360 (May): Treaty of Brétigny – ransom terms finalized. The king partially released but required to raise the remaining sum.
1360, December 5: King John II issues ordinance for minting the first franc à cheval gold coin (weight approx. 3.885 g of nearly pure/24-carat gold👀👈( from Hungarian gold ) value exactly 1 livre tournois). Purpose: high-quality gold coin to help collect and pay the ransom, stabilize finances, and symbolize the king's "free and released" (franc et délivré) status. The coin showed the king in armor on horseback with sword raised; legend included "Francorum rex."
Gold sources specifically for the 1360 francThe gold for the 1360 franc did not primarily come from French mines (French gold mining was limited,nothing , France produced more silver in regions such as Languedoc, Massif Central, Savoy, or Saint-Étienne 👀👈)=St.Eirene /St.Piroska
The large quantities needed for the ransom and coin minting were assembled through taxes, extraordinary levies, royal treasury, and international channels. Main sources:Predominantly from Hungarian gold (Carpathians, Kremnica/Körmöcbánya): The largest and most reliable European source in the 14th century. 👀👈
Hungarian gold reached Western Europe, including French "royal"??? finances and war expenditur
es, via #
Italian #bankers and merchants....🧶
👇
