France 1681-D 1/2 ecu
This specimen was lot 42190 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Oklahoma City, OK, August 2025), where it sold for $2,040. The catalog description[1] noted, "FRANCE. 1/2 Ecu, 1681-D. Lyon Mint. Louis XIV. PCGS AU-58. "Parliament" type. These issues were struck in fairly large quantities, but were mostly recalled and overstruck with later types and as a result quite RARELY encountered. The present example exhibits a strike and preservation far above the norm, with essentially full detail to the elegant portrait and no distracting adjustment marks, the surfaces additionally highly original and deeply toned. A perhaps unimprovable opportunity for this date and mint combination. From the Richard August Collection. Ex: Enterprise Collection (Heritage - 1/2004) Lot # 14673." This demi-écu à la cravate was struck 1672-85 in fairly large quantities but was the victim of repeated "reformations," where older half écus were called in and restruck. As a result, the type is scarce today. It was struck at Lyon 1674-83 but this is a rare date.
Recorded mintage: 40,293.
Specification: 13.72 g, 0.917 fine silver, 37-41 mm diameter, plain edge, designed by F. Warin.
Catalog reference: Dr/4 № 565, KM-230.3; Gad-178; Dupl-1494; Ciani-1874.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- 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.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, August 2025 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, featuring The Richard August Collection and the Richard Margolis Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2025.
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