France 1654-L ecu

Stack's Bowers 2023 NYINC sale, lot 23113

This specimen was lot 23113 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2023), where it sold for $720. The catalog description^[1] noted, "FRANCE. Ecu, 1654-L. Bayonne Mint. Louis XIV. NGC MS-61. This charming Mint State specimen delivers strong details and light luster throughout. Plum to amber toning coats the surfaces, only deepening the appeal of the present example." The écu à la mèche longue superseded the écu à la mèche courte in 1646 and was struck in large numbers until 1654, when the mints ran out of the old hammered coinage to melt down for bullion.

Recorded mintage: 8,025, a scarce date.

Specification: 27.45 g, 0.917 fine silver, plain edge, designed by Isaac Briot.

Catalog reference: Dr/4 № 441, Dr/2 № 298, Dav-3799, KM-155.10; Gad-202.

Sources:

Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1600-1700, Galesburg, IL, 1974.
^[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.
Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Royales Françaises, 1610-1792, 5me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2018.
George Sobin, Jr., The Silver Crowns of France, 1640-1973. Teaneck, NJ: Richard Margolis, 1974.
^[1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The January 2023 NYINC Auction: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, featuring the Taraszka Collection and the Mark and Dottie Salton Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.

Link to:

France 1654-L ecu

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