France (1519) ecu d'or Fr-345

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Sincona sale 38, lot 1285, Toulouse mint
from the Stack's Bowers 2018 NYINC sale, lot 22489
attributed to Montpellier but actually from Rouen
from the Stack's Bowers 2018 Collector's Choice sale, lot 70454
Montpellier mint
Stack's Bowers 2020 NYINC sale, lot 22489
Saint-André de Villeneuve-les-Avignon mint
from the Mountain Groan Collection
Toulouse mint

The first specimen was lot 1285 in Sincona sale 38 (Zürich, May 2017), where it sold for 700 CHF (about US$840 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,

"FRANCE, Königreich, François I. 1515-1547 Ecu dor au soleil o. J. (5. Typ, 3. Emission, 21.7.1519). Toulouse. Vorzüglich. (kingdom of France, Francis I, 1515-47, undated écu d'or au soleil, third emission of 1519, Toulouse mint, Extremely fine.)"

The second specimen was lot 22489 in Stack's Bowers 2018 NYINC sale (New York, January 2018), where it sold for $1,080. The catalog description[2] noted, "FRANCE. Ecu d'Or au Soleil, ND (3rd emission, 21 July 1519). Montpellier Mint. Francois I (1515-47). NGC MS-62. Nicely struck with full legends on both sides. Soft satin luster and quite attractive." The third specimen was lot 70454 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Santa Ana, CA, May 2018), where it sold for $900. The catalog description[3] noted,

"FRANCE. Ecu d'Or, ND. Montpellier Mint. Francois I (1515-47). NGC MS-61. Struck during a period when France was nearly surrounded by the Habsburg monarchy. As a result, France under Francois I became aligned with the Ottoman Empire as a strategic counter-balance, something considered quite controversial for a Christian king at the time. Sharply struck on a broad, round flan showing full legends on both sides. Reverse shows evidence of being overstruck on an earlier issue. An outstanding example of this issue with lovely lemon yellow luster."

The fourth specimen was lot 22489 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2020), where it sold for $900. The catalog description[4] noted, "FRANCE. Ecu d'Or, ND (1515-47). Saint-André de Villeneuve-les-Avignon Mint. Francois I. NGC MS-62. Variety with crossed swords at top of obverse and reverse. Well struck gold ecu with nearly full peripheral legends and good detail on central devices." This type, along with a similar demi-écu d'or au soleil, was issued prior to the implementation of letter mintmarks in 1540. It had a face value of 40 sols tournois.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 3.42 g, .953 fine gold, the first specimen 3.38 g, the second specimen 3.44 g, the third specimen 3.37 g.

Catalog reference: Ciani-1073, Duplessy 775var. Fr-345.

Source:

  • Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 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]Ponterio, Richard, Kyle Ponterio, John Kraljevich and Cris Chatigny, The January 2018 NYINC Sale: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, featuring the Eldorado Collection of Colombian and Ecuadorian Coins, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2017.
  • [3]Ponterio, Richard, Kyle Ponterio and Chris Chatigny, The May 2018 Collector's Choice Sale, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2018
  • [4]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The January 2020 NYINC Sale: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2019.

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