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Fleur-De-Lis: Honored in France – and ElsewhereThe Fleur-De-Lis is well known in heraldry. Its appearance on coins of many countries is a “valuable coin story” for collectors worldwide.But it must be said that the fleur-de-lis, the flower of the lily (actually an iris), is most identified with France. There it was first a religious symbol of purity. As time went on, it was adopted as a royal symbol. It was said to have been a 5th century gift to King Clovis I from the Virgin Mary upon Clovis’ conversion to Christianity. Another rendition is that Clovis adorned his war helmet with a lily prior to beating the tar out of the Visigoths at Vouille. Regardless, the fleur became an heraldic charge, a small icon or symbol used as part of a coat of arms. Originally multiple fleur-de-lis symbols were “seeded” (distributed) over an azure shield. (“Azure” is herald-speak for the color blue.) The symbol was applied to royal scepters and clothing. The fleur-de-lis became associated with the King – and the saintly. The coin at the top of this page, a gold Double Royal shows Philippe VI de Valois upon his throne, his scepter topped with the fleur. During the 14th century Charles V completed the symbol's evolution as a national symbol of France, grouping three in gold upon an azure field. At the same time, the English, or at least their King Edward III, was not content to allow the French exclusive use of the fleur. More than that, Edward claimed the very throne of France!
The coin above is called a Noble, and English gold coin of Edward III. Interestingly, the king is seen in a ship rather than on a horse or a throne, reflecting a growing interest in projecting power over the sea perhaps. Fleurs are displayed prominently upon his shield. Edward’s case for the French throne was founded on his Norman French ancestry, and the fact that his uncle was Charles IV, the French king. When Charles died in 1328, Edward assumed rights through his mother, Charles’ sister. Edward chose to overlook the French tradition of royal inheritance through male relatives only. Thus began The Hundred Years War.
The fleur appears on Spanish coins via the House of Bourbon. Philip V of Spain was also the Duke of Anjou in France, before Charles II bequeathed to him all of Spain in 1700. Spanish and Spanish colonial coins such as the Mexican eight reale piece shown above have the fleur as a group of three within the Bourbon escutcheon. (An escutcheon is a small shield added to an existing coat of arms, usually positioned somewhat above center within the larger design.)
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