France 1632-X ecu d'or
This specimen was lot 1052 in Goldberg's NY International sale 58 (New York, January 2023), where it sold for $1,620. The catalog description[1] noted, "France. Louis XIII (1610-1643). Gold Ecu d'or, 1632-X. Amiens mint. Crowned arms of France. Rev. Lobed, floriated cross. Mintage Die line on obverse. Sharply struck with original mint luster. Date listed as rare. The only example graded at PCGS. In PCGS holder graded MS 62." Shown is a écu d'or à la croix torsadée struck at the Amiens mint in the last years before the switch to milled coinage in the 1640's. This type was struck at numerous French mints 1611-43, i.e., Louis' entire reign; it is listed for Amiens 1615-17, 1631-43. The Amiens mint product is distinct in having the mintmark on the obverse instead of placing it in the center of the cross on the reverse, as was usual. These coins were usually struck with the hammer and were supposed to be phased out with the introduction of milled coinage in 1640 but écus d'or are known dated as late as 1654. 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 1632, the écu d'or was worth 83 sols tournois. By 1636, it had risen to 104 sols tournois.
Recorded mintage: 19,786[2].
Specification: 3.37 g, .958 fine gold, plain edge, this specimen 3.34 g.
Catalog reference: Dr/4 № 1a, Dr/2 № 1b, Fr-398; Gad-55; KM 41.17.
- [2]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.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- [1]Goldberg, Ira, Stephen Harvey and Vera Kan, Goldberg NY International 2023 Sale, Los Angeles: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, 2022.
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