Francis I (1515–1547). Gold shield with a small cross (bearing the double mint mark Z and R) ND (1541–1544), Z, Rennes.

Obverse (at 12 o'clock): FRANCISCVS DEI: GRA: FRANCORVM REX. Crowned shield of France, beneath a sun; below (mint mark).
Rev. + XPS: VINCIT: XPS: REGNAT: XPS: IMPERAT: (mint) (different). Plain reamed cross within a leafy polylobe.
Dy.889 - Sb.4878 - G.340 - Fr.351; Gold - 3.36 g - 26 mm - 6 h
NGC XF DETAILS DAMAGED, REV SCRATCHED (8772189-021).
With Z on the obverse and R on the reverse. The strike is slightly flattened, with a crease mark. Graffiti and scratch marks on the reverse. Rare. TTB.
Rennes, which had traditionally used the letter R during the era of the Dukes and then from 1491 to 1540 for the King of France, was assigned the letter Z by the letters patent of January 14, 1540, regarding the reform of the mints (before being assigned the number 9 as a new distinguishing mark in 1551). Our specimen bears the new letter “Z” on the obverse but retains the letter “R”—which had traditionally been assigned to it—on the reverse, at the end of the legend