France 1664-9 ecu
The first specimen was lot 47010 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2026), where it sold for $432. The catalog description[1] noted, "FRANCE. Ecu, 1664-(9). Rennes Mint. Louis XIV. NGC AU-58." The second specimen was lot 1791 in Jean Elsen sale 164 (Brussels, March 2026), where it sold for €160 (about US$223 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[2] noted,
"FRANCE, Royaume, Louis XIV (1643-1715), AR écu au buste juvénile, 1664 9, Rennes. 1er type. D/ B. à d., les cheveux longs, l., dr. et cuir. R/ Écu de France couronné. Rare. Anciennement nettoyé et repatiné. Beau à Très Beau. (kingdom of France, Louis XIV, 1643-1715, silver écu of the juvenile bust of 1664, Rennes mint, first type. Obverse: laureante, draped and armored bust right, with long hair; reverse: crowned arms of France. Rare, retoned after an old cleaning. Fine - Very Fine.)"
Droulers[3] devotes catalog numbers 444 thru 449 to describe the numerous variations of this bust, introduced in 1659 when the king was 21 years old. This particular bust was used only at Rennes 1663-65 and at Paris 1662-72. Altho the succeeding bust, the écu à la cravate, was introduced in 1672, écus juvéniles are known dated as late as 1680.
Recorded mintage: 142,700.
Specification: 27.45 g, 0.917 fine silver, 38-41 mm diameter, plain edge, engraved by J. Warin; the second specimen 26,96 g.
Catalog reference: Dr/4 № 444, Dr/2 № 315, Dav-3802; KM-211.5; Gad-205; Dup-1483.
- 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.
- [3]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, January 2026 NYINC Showcase Auction, Ancient and World Coins, featuring the Kazmier Wysocki Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2025.
- [2]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 164: Monnaies du duché de Brabant et du royaume de Belgique, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2026.
Link to:
- 1663-L écu au buste juvénile
- 1663 écu du Béarn au buste juvénile, Pau mint
- 1664-D douzième d'écu au buste juvénile
- 1664-& douzième d'écu au buste juvénile
- 1664-L écu au buste juvénile
- 1664 écu du Béarn au buste juvénile, Pau mint
- 1664-A louis d'or au buste juvénile
- 1664-D louis d'or juvénile
- 1665-L écu au buste juvénile
- 1665 écu du Béarn au buste juvénile, Pau mint
- Coins and currency dated 1664
- return to French royal coinage (to 1793)