2019-11-29 Fri

Philip IV was King of France reigning from 1285 to 1314. His long struggle with the Roman papacy ended with the transfer of the Curia to Avignon, France. He also secured French royal power by wars on barons and neighbors and by restriction of feudal usages.

Philip relied on skillful civil servants to govern the kingdom rather than on his nobles. Philip and his advisors were instrumental in the transformation of France from a feudal country to a centralized state.

He died on 29th November 1314at Fontainebleau, where he was born. His three sons were successively kings of France: Louis X, Philip V, and Charles IV.
Depicted here is a gold Agnel d'Or (Golden Lamb), the last gold coin of the reign of Philip the Fair. It had a weight of 4.13g and was composed of pure 24 karats gold. The obverse of a coin depicts the Agnus Dei "Lamb of God burdened by the sins of the World, have mercy on us". The reverse of a coin engraved cross fleuree within quadrilobe with lis in spandrels.

Image Source: Heritage Auctions