France (1447)-Montpellier ecu d'or Fr-307
This specimen was lot 405 in Sincona sale 69 (Zürich, May 2021), where it sold for 900 CHF (about US$1,195 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANKREICH. Charles VII. 1422-1461. Ecu d'or à la couronne o. J. (4e émission, 26.5.1447), Montpellier. Fast vorzüglich. Kleiner Kratzer am Rand. (kingdom of France, Charles VII, 1422-61, undated gold écu of the crown, fourth emission of May 1447, Montpellier mint. About extremely fine, Small scratch at the edge.)"
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 Toulouse mint (later mintmark "M") as part of the fourth emission of May 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): 3.47 g, .979 fine gold, value raised to 27 sols, 6 deniers;
- 4th emission (May 1447, shown here): 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. This specimen 3.47 g.
Catalog reference: Duplessy 511 C, Fr-307.
- Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
- [1]Jürg Richter, Auction 69, World Coins and Medals, Bullion Auction and Chinese Banknotes, Part 1, Zürich: Sincona AG, 2021.
- 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.
Link to:
- (1445) demi-écu d'or, 2nd emission, Toulouse mint
- (1445) écu d'or à la couronne, 2nd emission, Toulouse mint
- (1445) écu d'or à la couronne, 2nd emission, Montpellier mint
- (1447) denier parisis
- (1447) demi-écu d'or à la couronne, Paris mint
- (1447) écu d'or à la couronne, third emission, Bourges mint
- (1450) écu d'or à la couronne, sixth emission
- Coins and currency dated 1447
- return to French royal coinage (to 1793)