France 1606-C 1/4 ecu
This specimen was lot 73321 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, November 2023), where it sold for $192. The catalog description[1] noted, "FRANCE. 1/4 Ecu, 1606-C. Saint-Lo Mint. Henry IV. PCGS AU-50. Despite its somewhat crude method of manufacture, this charming specimen remains without much in the way of handling, and stands as the sole representative of the date and mint in the PCGS census." This mint distinguished its product from those of other mints by placing crowns at the ends of the arms of the cross instead of fleurs-de-lys. Examples are known for every date 1589-1610 and are fairly available. For this date, Sombart[2] reports thirteen examples.
Recorded mintage: 109,811.
Specification: 9.71 g, 0.917 fine silver.
Catalog reference: Sb 4682, Dupl-1230; KM-28.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- 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.
- [2]Sombart, Stéphan, Franciae IV: Catalogue des Monnaies Royales Françaises de François Ier à Henri IV (1540-1610), Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 1997.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, November 2023 World Collectors Choice Online Auction - Ancient & World Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
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