France 1656-L 1/2 ecu

Jean Elsen sale 85, lot 1261

The specimen shown is a demi-écu à la mèche longue (half écu of the long lock) struck in Bayonne during the minority of Louis XIV of France (r. 1643-1715). It was lot 1261 in Jean Elsen sale 85 (Brussels, September 2005), where it did not sell. This is a "long lock" variety. The "short lock" variety, struck 1643-52, is distinguished by the shorter lock of hair growing in front of the young king's ear. This date is priced^[1] about 50% more than the common date (1652-G). The weak strike shown on this specimen is very typical for the period.

Recorded mintage: 91,510^[1].

Specification: 13.72 g, 0.917 fine silver, 31-32 mm diameter, plain edge, designed by Jean Warin.

Catalog reference: Dr/4 № 527, Dr/2 № 301.

Source:

• ^[1]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.

Link to:

• 1644-A demi-écu à la mèche courte
• 1656-D liard au buste adolescent
• 1656-A lis d'argent
• 1656-T demi-écu à la mèche longue
• 1656-V écu de France et de Navarre à la mèche longue
• 1656-AR louis d'or à la mèche longue
• 1656-A lys d'or
• 1658-9 demi-écu à la mèche longue
• 1659-B demi-écu juvénile
• 1659-F demi-écu à la mèche longue
• 1659-9 demi-écu juvénile
• Coins and currency dated 1656
• return to French royal coinage (to 1793)