France 1616-D ecu d'or

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Heritage sale 61352, lot 22090
image courtesy Heritage Auction Galleries

This specimen was lot 22090 in Heritage sale 61352 (Dallas, December 2023), where it sold for $750. The catalog description[1] noted, "France: Louis XIII gold Ecu d'Or 1616-D UNC Details (Bent) NGC, Lyon mint. A fleeting issue that rarely comes up for sale, this example is sure to earn attention from French gold specialists." This type was struck 1611-44 and was the standard gold coin of France prior to the introduction of the milled louis d'or in 1641. Gadoury notes this mint as slightly scarce. This type was originally worth fifty sols tournois in the sixteenth century, the inflation brought on by the Wars of Religion caused its value to steadily increase. At the time of issue in 1617, the écu d'or was worth 75 sols tournois. By 1636, it had risen to 104 sols tournois. Many varieties exist; some have the mintamrk in the reverse legend, this one has the mintmark in the center of the cross.

Recorded mintage: 1,305, a better date.

Specification: 3.37 g, 0.958 fine gold, plain edge.

Catalog reference:Dr/4 № 1, Dr/2 № 1, Dupl-1282 A, Fr-398, KM 57, Gad-55.

Source:

  • Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
  • Droulers, Frédéric, Répertoire General des Monnaies de Louis XIII à Louis XVI (1610-1792), 4e édition. Paris: AFPN, 2009.
  • Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
  • Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017
  • Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Royales Françaises, 1610-1792, 5me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2018.
  • [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, 2023 December 10 Spotlight: France World Coins Showcase Auction #61352, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auctions, 2023.

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