monnaie tournois

The "monnaie tournois" was a significant French coin that emerged in the Middle Ages. Initially, it was a silver denier issued by the abbey of St. Martin at Tours, dating back to the 10th century. This coin, characterized by its "castle" type, became influential and was lighter than the royal "monnaie parisis."

In 1266, King Louis IX reformed the coinage, introducing the "gros tournois" as a silver coin weighing about four grams. This coin also featured a castle design, often with concentric inscriptions. Later, gold coins like the "écu" appeared. The term "franc" was first applied to a gold coin minted in 1360 by King John II of France. In 1795, following the French Revolution, a new franc currency was introduced, eventually becoming the standard monetary unit for France and several other countries.12