File:France SB818-20385o.jpg

This specimen was lot 20385 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Philadelphia, August 2018), where it did not sell. The catalog description^[1] noted, "FRANCE. Ecu d'Or du Dauphine, ND (1542-47). Romans Mint. Francois I (1515-47). NGC MS-62. 3.37 gms. Fr-362; Dupl-894; Ciani-1096; Laf-754. An EXTREMELY RARE ecu d'or a la croisette du Dauphine issued towards the end of the reign of Francois I. In 1540, a coinage reform superseded the old dots method with letters to indicate the mint. The reform apparently did not include this type, which has a dot under the "R" of "FRANCISCVS" to note the Romans mint. This example, superbly preserved, displays surfaces that are bold and lustrous, with virtually no doubling. Only the second example we've seen offered in recent years and thus a real prize for the advanced collector of early French gold."