Franc à cheval
The franc à cheval is the first French franc coin ; it is made of 24-carat gold and weighs 3.88 g. Circulated in February 1361 under the reign of King John II (1350-1364), it was used as a ransom from his English captivity. The value of the coin was identical to a livre tournois and the term franc - from francorum rex - soon became a synonym for it.
The obverse shows the king with a raised sword on a galloping horse. Johann wears a crown with a lily on his helmet and armor decorated with lilies over his mail shirt . The horse is a lily-decorated saddle cloth covered. The circular inscription reads: IOHANNES DEI GRATIA • FRANCORV REX, d. H. "John by God's grace, King of the Franks".
The reverse shows a quatrefoil adorned with palmettes and clover leaves a cross with another quatrefoil in the center. The circular inscription reads: XPC VINCIT • XPC REGNAT • XPC IMPERAT, i. H. "Christ conquers, Christ rules, Christ commands".