France (1519)-B ecu d'or Fr-338
The first specimen was lot 99096 in Heritage sale 61253 (Dallas, January 2022), where it sold for $720. The catalog description[1] noted,
"France. François I (1515-1547) gold Ecu d'Or au soleil ND (from 1519)-B UNC Details (Bent) NGC, Bayonne mint, Fr-347, Dupl-775. m. 5th type, 3rd Emission (from 21 July 1519). + (anchor) FRAИCISCVS (B below И): DEI: GRACIA: FRAИCORVM: REX, small sun above crowned royal shield within inner border / + (anchor) XPS: VIИCIT: XPS: REGИAT: XPS: InPERAT:, cross fleury, F in second and third angles, lis in first and fourth. A selection of generally laudable quality in spite of its noted bending, most particularly as the strike has rendered such crisp detail despite the heavily strained nature of the dies. While some light die rust occurs over the obverse, this feature is made most clear on the reverse, where it accompanies a die shift and a dramatic break immediately following the first X in the legend. It is quite possible that the deteriorating state of this die may be the reason for the absence of the usual B that would typically appear below the V in VINCIT. Simply stated, an incredible survivor."
The second specimen was lot 99097 in Heritage sale 61253 (Dallas, January 2022), where it sold for $900. The catalog description[1] noted,
"France: François I (1515-1547) gold Ecu d'Or au soleil ND (from 1519)-B AU58 NGC, Bayonne mint. 5th type, 3rd Emission (from 21 July 1519). + (anchor) FRAИCISCVS (B below И): DEI: GRACIA: FRAИCORVM: REX, small sun above crowned royal shield within inner border / + (anchor) XPS: VIИCIT (B below V): XPS: REGИAT: XPS: IMPERAT, cross fleury, F in second and third angles, lis in first and fourth. A scarcer subtype from the Bayonne mint, exhibiting the letter B below the 4th letters in the obverse and reverse legends. Altogether missing from the Gallia Collection, this is the additionally one of the first such examples we have presented, with an ample degree of detail and just mild ghosting confirming its near-Mint State status."
In January 1540, a reform abolished the secret dots and substituted the familiar letter system used in France until the 20th century. At that time, the Bayonne mint was assigned the letter "L", which it used until it closed in 1835.
Recorded mintage: unknown but scarce.
Specification: 3.44 g, 0.958 fine gold; the first specimen 3.38 g, the second specimen 3.35 g.
Catalog reference: Fr-338, Dupl-775.
- 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]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, The Brittany Collection of French Coins Showcase Auction #61253, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2021.
Link to:
- (1519) demi-écu d'or au soleil, Toulouse mint
- (1519) écu d'or au soleil, Paris mint, two crowned "F's" and two coronets
- (1519) écu d'or au soleil, Paris mint, two "F's" and two lilies
- (1519) écu d'or au soleil, Paris and Toulouse mint
- (1519) écu d'or au soleil, Lyon mint
- (1519-40) écu d'or au soleil de Bretagne, Nantes mint
- (1519-28) écu d'or au Dauphiné, Crémieu mint
- Coins and currency dated 1519
- return to French royal coinage (to 1793)