France (1445) ecu d'or Fr-307
The first specimen was lot 1281 in Sincona sale 38 (Zürich, May 2017), where it sold for 400 CHF (about US$480 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Königreich, Charles VII. 1422-1461 Ecu dor à la couronne o. J. (3. Typ, 2. Emission, 2.8.1445). Montpellier. Sehr schön. Leicht gewellt. (kingdom of France, Charles VII, 1422-61, undated écu d'or à la couronne, Montpellier mint. Very fine, Lightly wavy planchet.)"
The second specimen was lot 2732 in Sincona sale 83 (Zürich, May 2023), where it sold for 1,400 CHF (about US$1,874 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[2] noted, "FRANKREICH, Charles VII. 1422-1461. Ecu d'or à la couronne o. J. (2. Emission, 12.8.1445), Angers. Selten in dieser Erhaltung. Vorzüglich-FDC (Rare in this condition, Extremely fine-uncirculated)." This coin was issued before the modern system of mintmarks was introduced by Francis I in 1540. Prior to that date, mints used various secret marks to identify and date their product. This otherwise undated and unmintmarked coin is thereby noted as being produced by the Montpellier mint (later mintmark "N") as part of the second emission of August 1445. Duplessy notes this coin had a face value of 25 sols tournois at the time of issue. Six emissions are recorded for this type:
- 1st emission (January 1436): 3.49 g, 1.000 fine gold, value 25 sols;
- 2nd emission (August 1445, shown here): 3.47 g, .989 fine gold;
- 3rd emission (January 1447): 3.47 g, .979 fine gold, value raised to 27 sols, 6 deniers;
- 4th emission (May 1447): 3.47 g, .989 fine gold;
- 5th emission (January 1448): 3.47 g, .979 fine gold;
- 6th emission (May 1450): 3.47 g, .963 fine gold.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.471 g, .989 fine gold, the first specimen 3.08 g; the second specimen 3.40 g.
Catalog reference: Duplessy 511A, Fr-307.
- Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome I, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
- 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]Jürg Richter, Auction 38, Gold Coins and Medals, Zürich: Sincona AG, 2017.
- [2]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 83, World and Swiss Coins and Medals, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2023.
Link to:
- (1431) royal d'or
- (1436) écu d'or, first emission, Toulouse mint
- (1445) demi-écu d'or, second emission, Toulouse mint
- (1445) écu d'or à la couronne, 2nd emission, Toulouse mint
- (1447) demi-écu d'or à la couronne
- (1447) écu d'or à la couronne, third emission, Bourges mint
- (1447) écu d'or à la couronne, fourth emission, Montpellier mint
- (1450) écu d'or à la couronne, sixth emission
- (1455) gros du Roi, Montpellier mint
- Coins and currency dated 1445
- return to French royal coinage (to 1793)