France 1579-H 1/4 ecu

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Jean Elsen sale 141, lot 1132

This specimen was lot 1132 in Jean Elsen sale 141 (Brussels, June 2019), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted,

"FRANCE, Royaume, Henri III (1574-1589), AR quart d'écu, 1579H, La Rochelle. D/ Croix fleurdelisée. R/ Ecu de France couronné, entre II-II. Rare. Très Beau. (kingdom of France, Henry III, 1574-89, silver quarter écu of 1579, La Rochelle mint. Obverse: floriate cross; reverse: crowned arms of France divides the value. Rare, Very Fine.)"

This quart d'écu was struck by the hammer. Introduced in the 1578, it superseded the testons and francs d'argent heretofore struck. It would be the most important silver coin of France until the milled coinage reform of the 1640's. Sombart[2] reports nine known in his survey, making this a somewhat common date. It had a face value of 15 sols tournois.

Recorded mintage: 21,558.

Specification: 9.71 g, 0.917 fine silver, this specimen 9,51 g.

Catalog reference: Sb 4662, Dupl-1133; Ci. 1438; Laf. 973.

Source:

  • Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
  • [2]Sombart, Stéphan, Franciae IV: Catalogue des Monnaies Royales Françaises de François Ier à Henri IV (1540-1610), Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 1997.
  • Roberts, James N., The Silver Coins of Medieval France (476-1610 AD), S. Salem, NY: Attic Books, 1996.
  • [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 141, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils, S.A., 2019.

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