France 1600-StP 1/4 ecu
This specimen was lot 1459 in Jean Elsen sale 153 (Brussels, December 2022), where it sold for €85 (about US$108 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Royaume, Henri IV (1589-1610), AR quart d'écu de Navarre, 1600, Saint-Palais. D/ Croix fleurdelisée. R/ Ecu couronné, parti de France-Navarre, accosté de II-II. Très Beau. (kingdom of France, Henry IV, 1589-1610, silver quarter écu of Navarre of 1600, St.-Palais mint. Obverse: floriate cross; reverse: crowned arms of France and Navarre divide the value. Very Fine.)"
This specimen was struck by the hammer at St-Palais in Bearn during the reign of Henry IV, founder of the Bourbon dynasty (1589-1793). This was the largest silver coin regularly struck in France prior to the introduction of milled coinage in the 1640's.
Recorded mintage: unknown but a common date.
Specification: 9.71 g, 0.917 fine silver; this specimen is 9,48 g.
Catalog reference: Dupl-1238; Ci. 1519; Laf. 1104, Sb-4710 (18 ex.).
- 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 153, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2022.
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