France 1662-T 1/2 ecu
This specimen was lot 99044 in Heritage sale 61259 (Dallas, TX, February 2022), where it sold for $552. The catalog description[1] noted, "France: Louis XIV 1/2 Ecu 1662-T MS62 NGC, Nantes mint. 1/2 Ecu au buste juvenile. A fully original example dressed in a desirable iridescent patination most notable to the legends, punctuated by visually intriguing adjustment marks and extensive evidence of die rust, likely contributing to the matte-like qualities of the surfaces." The specimen shown is a demi-écu juvénile, struck at Nantes during the reign of Louis XIV. Droulers[2] devotes catalog numbers 530 thru 557 to describe the numerous variations of this bust, introduced in 1659 when the king was 21 years old. Despite the modest reported mintage, which was likely fraudulently underreported, this issue is one of the common dates of the type.
Recorded mintage: 52,562[2].
Specification: 13.72 g, 0.917 fine silver, 31-32 mm diameter, plain edge, designed by Jean Warin.
Catalog reference: Dr/4 № 548T, Dr/2 № 327, KM 202.13, Gad-173 (R), Dupl-1484.
- [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.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, The Long Island Collection of French Coins Showcase Auction #61259, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2022.
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