France 1673-L ecu
This specimen was lot 1326 in Jean Elsen sale 165 (Brussels, June 2026), where it sold for €220 (about US$303 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Royaume, Louis XIV (1643-1715), AR écu à la cravate, 1673 L, Bayonne. D/ B. dr. et cuir. à d., portant une perruque et une cravate brodée. R/ Écu de France couronné. Rare. Nettoyé. Légères traces d'ajustage au revers. Beau/Très Beau. (kingdom of France, Louis XIV, 1643-1715, silver écu of the necktie of 1673, Bayonne mint. Obverse: draped and armored bust right, wearing a peruke and an embroidered cravat; reverse: crowned arms of France. Rare, cleaned, light adjustment marks on the reverse, Fine/Very Fine.)"
This écu à la cravate was struck 1673-79. A revised bust was used until 1683. For this mint, the usual mantle is replaced with a sash. So many of these écus fell victim to the reformations of the the 1690's that the type is now scarce to rare.
Recorded mintage: 266,476, most common date for the mint[2].
Specification: 27.45 g, 0.917 fine silver, 38-41 mm diameter, plain edge, engraved by J.-B. du Four, this specimen 26,92 g.
Catalog reference: Dr/4 № 472, Dr/2 № 342, Dupl. 1493; Gad-209, Dav-3805, KM 226.8.
- [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.
- 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.
- 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]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 165, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2026.
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