France 1645-A 1/2 ecu

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from Jean Elsen sale 132, lot 766

This specimen was lot 766 in Jean Elsen sale 132 (Brussels, March 2017), where it sold for €220 (about US$279 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,

"FRANCE, Royaume, Louis XIV (1643-1715), AR demi-écu à la mèche courte, 1645A, Paris. Rosette initiale. D/ B. enfantin, l., dr. et cuir. à d. R/ Ecu de France couronné. Fines griffes. Très Beau à Superbe. (kingdom of France, Louis XIV (1643-1715), silver half écu of the short hair of 1645, Paris mint. Obverse: laureate, draped infant bust to right; reverse: crowned arms of France. Fine scratches, very fine to extremely fine.)"

The specimen shown is a demi-écu à la mèche courte struck in Paris during the minority of Louis XIV (r. 1643-1715). This is a "short lock" variety. The "long lock" variety, struck 1646-60 (see link), is distinguished by the longer lock of hair growing in front of the young king's ear. Altho most of the "short lock" variety was struck 1643-45, about 4.6 million were minted in that time, so the type is not rare.

Recorded mintage: 218,730 with rose after the date plus 844,270 with a dot after the date (shown here, common).

Specification: 13.72 g, 0.917 fine silver, 32-35 mm diameter, plain edge, designed by Jean Warin or Isaac Briot, this specimen 13,58 g.

Catalog reference: KM 163.1, Dr/4 № 526B, Dr/2 № 295, Dupl-1462; Gad-168.

Source:

  • 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.
  • Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
  • Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Royales Françaises, 1610-1792, 5me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2018.
  • [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 132, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2017.

Link to:

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