France 1683-K ecu
This specimen was lot 42222 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2026), where it sold for $1,080. The catalog description[1] noted, "FRANCE. Ecu, 1683-K. Bordeaux Mint. Louis XIV. NGC AU-58. On the precipice of Mint State, with only the barest hint of dullness on the highest points of the design, the fields imbued with soft luster and decorated with handsome mauve toning. A VERY SCARCE survivor in this condition." 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 common, but even a common date is priced over three times that of an écu à la mèche longue. Four varieties are listed, of which this is the fourth, marked by the hooked nose of the king.
Recorded mintage: 102,782.
Specification: 27.45 g, 0.917 fine silver, 37-41 mm diameter, plain edge, designed by F. Warin.
Catalog reference: Gad-210; Dr/4 № 469, Dr/2 № 353, Dav-3805; KM-226.7; Dup-1493.
- [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]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.
Link to:
- 1682-A écu à la cravate
- 1682-K écu à la cravate
- 1682-L écu à la cravate
- 1682-9 écu à la cravate
- 1683 sol de Strasbourg
- 1683 deux sols de Strasbourg
- 1683-A demi-écu à la cravate
- 1683-B demi-écu à la cravate
- 1683-A écu à la cravate
- 1683-9 écu à la cravate
- 1685-A écu de Flandre
- 1691-B écu aux 8 L
- Coins and currency dated 1683
- return to French royal coinage (to 1793)