France 1662-Y 1/2 ecu

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Jean Elsen sale 158, lot 1691

This specimen was lot 1691 in Jean Elsen sale 158 (Brussels, March 2024), where it sold for €2,800 (about US$3,641 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,

"FRANCE, Royaume, Louis XIV (1643-1715), AR demi-écu au buste juvénile, 1662 Y. Type spécial de Bourges. D/ B. à d., les cheveux longs, l., dr. et cuir. R/ Ecu de France couronné. Extrêmement rare. Très Beau. (kingdom of France, Louis XIV, 1643-1715, silver half écu of the juvenile bust of 1662, special type for Bourges. Obverse: laureate, draped and armored bust right with long hair; reverse: crowned arms of France. Extremely rare, Very Fine.)"

The specimen shown is a demi-écu juvénile, struck at Bourges 1658-62 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. This issue is a rare date. Bourges, the capital of the duchy of Berry, was in the backwoods, far from the channels of commerce.

Reported Mintage: 4,600, a rare date.

Specification: 13.72 g, 0.917 fine silver, 31-32 mm diameter, plain edge; this specimen 13,35 g.

Catalog reference: Dr/4 № 530C, Dr/2 № 311C, KM 200, Dupl-1482; Gad-172; L4L 197.

Source:

  • [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]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 158, Monnaies de la Principauté de Liège, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2024.

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