France (1447)-Bourges ecu d'or Fr-307
This specimen was lot 621 in Sincona sale 89 (Zürich, May 2024), where it sold for 1,800 CHF (about US$2,379 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANKREICH Königreich, Charles VII. 1422-1461. Ecu d'or à la couronne o. J. (3. Emission, 20.1.1447), Bourges. Selten in dieser Erhaltung. Gutes vorzüglich. Exemplar der Gallia Collection, Auktion Christie's, London, Oktober 1987, Los 76. (kingdom of France, Charles VII, 1422-61, undated gold shield of the crown, third emission, January 1447, Bourges mint. Rare in this condition, Good extremely fine.)"
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 Bourges mint (later mintmark "Y") as part of the third emission of January 1447. Duplessy notes this coin had a face value of 27½ 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): 3.47 g, .989 fine gold;
- 3rd emission (January 1447, shown here): 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: 3.47 g, .979 fine gold, this specimen 3.34 g.
Catalog reference: Duplessy 511B, 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]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 89, The Garrulus Collection of Numismatic Rarities and Masterpieces, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2024.
Link to:
- (1445) demi-écu d'or, second emission, Toulouse mint
- (1445) écu d'or à la couronne, second emission, Toulouse mint
- (1445) écu d'or à la couronne, second emission, Montpellier mint
- (1447) denier parisis
- (1447) demi-écu d'or à la couronne, Paris mint
- (1447) écu d'or à la couronne, fourth emission, Montpellier mint
- (1450) écu d'or à la couronne, sixth emission
- Coins and currency dated 1447
- return to French royal coinage (to 1793)