France (1535-40) ecu d'or Fr-347
This specimen was lot 771 in Sincona sale 63 (Zürich, June 2020), where it sold for 450 CHF (about US$564 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"Frankreich, konigreich, François I. 1515-1547. Ecu d'or au soleil o. J. (6. Typ, 3. Emission, 1535-1540), Bayonne. Sehr schön. Kleine Kratzer. (kingdom of France, Francis I, 1515-47, undated gold écu of the sunburst, third emission of 1535, Bayonne mint. Very fine, Small scratches.)"
This écu d'or au soleil is marked as a product of the Bayonne mint by the anchor mintmark visible on both sides. The tiny crosses at the top of the obverse and reverse mark this as part of the third emission of July 1519, which was not struck at Bayonne until 1535-40. Letter mintmarks were introduced as part of the reform of 1540 and dates soon after. This issue had a face value of forty sols tournois.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.44 g, 0.958 fine gold, this specimen 3.28 g.
Catalog reference: Duplessy 777. Fr-347.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, Sincona sale 63: Gold and Silver Coins and Medals, SINCONA Bullion Auction, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2020.
- 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.
- Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
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