Gros tournois, Tours, Ludvig IX av Frankrike,
In 1266, Louis IX of France introduced the Gros tournois denomination, which was a great success as the coin was widely distributed and copied in Europe.
One side shows a cross with two text rings. The inner one reads: ‘LVDOVICVS REX’ (= King Louis). The outer one in the form of abbreviated words: ‘BNDICTV SIT NOME DNI NRI DE IHV XPI’ which means ‘Blessed be the name of our Lord God Jesus Christ’.
On the other side is the inscription ‘TVRONVS CIVIS’ meaning ‘City of Tours’. In the centre is a symbol representing the city gate and church of Tours. The outer ring is filled with 12 lilies, a typical French heraldic symbol.
This coin was part of a hoard found at Vejby in Ängelholm, Scania in 1870.
