France 1603-StP 1/4 ecu
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. This type was struck 1589-1610 but some dates are "reported, not confirmed" in Sombart. This specimen was lot 606 in Stack's Bowers ANA auction (Chicago, August 2014), where it sold for $493.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "FRANCE. 1/4 Ecu, 1603. St. Palais Mint. Henry IV (1589-1610). NGC MS-63. Impressive detail and toning."
Recorded mintage: 60,413, a common date for the type.
Specification: 9.71 g, 0.917 fine silver.
Catalog reference: Sb 4710, KM-31, Duplessy 1238, Ciani 1519.
- Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
- 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.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- [1]Ponterio, Richard, The August 2014 Chicago ANA Auction: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, Featuring the David O'Harrow Collection, Irvine, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2014.
Link to:
- 1602 quart d'écu de Navarre, Saint-Palais mint
- 1602 quart d'écu du Béarn, Morlaàs mint
- 1603-T huitiême d'écu, croix feuillue de face
- 1603-D demi-franc
- 1603-N demi-franc
- 1603-H quart d'écu
- 1603-K quart d'écu
- 1603-L quart d'écu
- 1603-R quart d'écu, écu de face
- 1603-T quart d'écu
- 1603-Z quart d'écu du Dauphiné
- 1603-9 quart d'écu
- 1603 quart d'écu du Béarn, Morlaas mint
- 1604 quart d'écu de Navarre, St.-Palais mint
- Coins and currency dated 1603
- return to French royal coinage (to 1793)