Dombes 1640 ecu d'or Fr-129
The first specimen was lot 99046 in Heritage sale 61253 (Dallas, January 2022), where it sold for $10,200. The catalog description[1] noted,
"France: Only the Fourth Known Example of This Date. Dombes. Gaston d'Orleans gold Ecu d'Or 1640 MS61 NGC, Trévoux mint. A remarkable rarity of the series, and reportedly only the fourth known example of the date and the sole representative in private hands--the other three residing in the British Museum, Bibliothèque Nationale, and the Musée de Trévoux. Notably minted from different dies than the specimen preserved in the BnF according to Poey d'Avant's entry (we have been unable to consult the two other specimens), this piece reveals deeply impressed details and a shimmering surface luster that attests well to its Mint State grade as assigned by NGC. Indeed, only a few stray wisps appear to bound the grade, likely the result of light cabinet friction. Likely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and the first time this coin has become available in nearly a decade. Ex. Monnaies d'Antan Auction 12 (November 2012, Lot 817); Maison Palombo Auction 10 (November 2011, Lot 403); Maison Palombo Auction 8 (November 2009, Lot 161)."
The second specimen was lot 1006 in Goldberg's NY International sale 58 (New York, January 2023), where it sold for $6,600. The catalog description[2] noted,
"France: Dombes. Gaston d' Orléans (1627-1650). Gold Ecu d'or or ½ Pistole, 1640. Crowned arms, Leg: GASTO:FR.VN.REG.VSVFR.PRIN:DOMB *G: Rev. Cross fluerée of lis and lobed garnishes. Leg: + DOMINVS.ADIVTOR.ET.REDEM.ME, date. Boldly struck with proof-like fields. Very rare in this grade. The only example graded at PCGS. In PCGS holder graded MS 62. Dombes, in southeastern France was originally part of the Burgundian Empire. In 1402, Louis II of Bourbon acquired the territory and it remained independent until 1523 when it was confiscated by the king of France, Francis I. It was returned to the Bourbon family in 1561 and passed through various hands until it was officially a part of the French kingdom in 1762."
Gaston, duc d'Orleans, was the younger brother of king Louis XIII. He was a lifelong troublemaker but so long as the king was unable to produce an heir, his life was safe, no matter how many treasonable conspiracies he was involved in. The Dombes region lies south of Franche Comte and west of Savoy and was a fief of the Montpensier family, whose heiress Gaston married in 1626. He struck coins for the region until his death in 1660 and the province reverted to the French crown on the death of his daughter in 1693. The SCWC lists this type for 1639-41.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.37 g, 0.958 fine gold, plain edge. The second specimen is 3.35 g.
Catalog reference: Fr-129, PdA-5181 var. (legends), Dupl-2979A, Boudeau-Unl., Divo-175 var. (punctuation). The second specimen is Fr-129; Divo 175 Variant: Obv 1639 Divo 174 Legend.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, The Brittany Collection of French Coins Showcase Auction #61253, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2021.
- [2]Goldberg, Ira, Larry Goldberg, John Lavender, Jason Villareal and Stephen Harvey, Goldberg NY International 2023 Sale, Los Angeles: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, 2022.
Link to: