France 1598-L 1/8 ecu
This specimen was lot 1155 in Jean Elsen sale 141 (Brussels, June 2019), where it sold for €200 (about US$265 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Royaume, Henri IV (1589-1610), AR huitième d'écu, 1598L, Bayonne. 2e type. D/ Croix feuillue. R/ Ecu de France couronné, entre V-III. Belle patine. Très Beau. (kingdom of France, Henry IV, 1589-1610, silver eighth écu of 1598, Bayonne mint, second type. Obverse: floriate cross; reverse: crowned arms of France divides the value. Nice patina, Very Fine.)"
This huitième d'écu accompanied the relatively common quart d'écu but is much scarcer. It had a face value of 7 sols, 6 deniers tournois. The first type (Dupl-1223) has the king's name starting at the top of the cross and the cross is plain with fleur-de-lys at the ends. On the second type (Dupl-1225, shown here), the king's name starts at top of cross but the cross is composed of lilies. A subtype of this (Dupl-1225A) has the king's name starting at the bottom of the shield.
Recorded mintage: 22,200, a rare date as most are.
Specification: 4.85 g, 0.917 fine silver, this specimen 4,73 g.
Catalog reference: Sb 4688 (3 ex.), Dupl-1225; Ci. 1526; Laf. 1067.
- Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
- Roberts, James N., The Silver Coins of Medieval France (476-1610 AD), S. Salem, NY: Attic Books, 1996.
- Sombart, Stéphan, Franciae IV: Catalogue des Monnaies Royales Françaises de François Ier à Henri IV (1540-1610), Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 1997.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 141, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils, S.A., 2019.
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