France 1681-S ecu

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Jean Elsen sale 143, lot 1655

This specimen was lot 1655 in Jean Elsen sale 143 (Brussels, December 2019), where it sold for €1,700 (about US$2,220 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,

"FRANCE, Royaume, Louis XIV (1643-1715), AR écu à la cravate, 1681S, Reims. 2e émission. D/ B. dr. et cuir. à d., portant une perruque et une cravate brodée. R/ Ecu de France couronné. Très rare Belle patine. Très Beau/Superbe. (kingdom of France, Louis XIV, 1643-1715, silver écu of the necktie of 1681, Reims mint, second issue. Obverse: draped and armored bust right, wearing a wig and an embroidered cravat; reverse: crowned arms of France. Very rare, nice toning, Very Fine/Extremely Fine.)"

This type was struck 1672-85 in fairly large quantities but was the victim of repeated "reformations," where older écus were called in and restruck. As a result, the type is rare today. It was succeeded by the écu drapé à l'antique of 1684-87. Droulers[2] prices this date as somewhat better, but even a common date is priced over three times that of an écu à la mèche longue.

Recorded mintage: 49,688, a better date.

Specification: 27.45 g, 0.917 fine silver, 37-38 mm diameter, plain edge, this specimen 27,21 g.

Catalog reference: Dav-3805, Dupl-1493; Gad-210, Dr/4 № 477, Dr/2 № 348S.

Source:

  • Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1600-1700, Galesburg, IL, 1974.
  • Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
  • [2]Droulers, Frédéric, Répertoire General des Monnaies de Louis XIII à Louis XVI (1610-1792), 4e édition. Paris: AFPN, 2009.
  • Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
  • Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Royales Françaises, 1610-1792, 5me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2018.
  • [1]Elsen, Philippe, Vente Publique 143, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils, S.A., 2019.

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