France 1689-D 1/2 ecu
This specimen was lot 1618 in Künker Auction 425 (Osnabrück, July 2025), where it sold for €3,600 (about US$5,098 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"EUROPÄISCHE MÜNZEN UND MEDAILLEN · FRANKREICH, KÖNIGREICH Louis XIV, 1643-1715. 1/2 Ecu au buste drapé à l'antique 1689 D, Lyon. RR Hübsche Patina, sehr schön. (kingdom of France, Louis XIV, 1643-1715, half écu of the antique draped bust of 1689, Lyon mint. Very rare, handsome patina, very fine.)"
The numismatics of French coins of the 1670's and 1680's is very confusing. This type was struck 1686-89 in small quantities and was the victim of repeated "reformations," where older demi-écus were called in and restruck. As a result, the type is quite rare today. It was succeeded by the demi-écu aux 8 L of 1690-93.
Recorded mintage: unknown[2].
Specification: 13.72 g, 0.917 fine silver, 31-32 mm diameter, plain edge, this specimen 13,60 g.
Catalog reference: KM 261.2, Duplessy 1507; Gadoury 181, Dr/4 № 585 or 587 (unlisted date).
- [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.
- Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
- [1]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Katalog 425: Gold coins from the Medieval and Modern Times, from the Mohr family collection, e.g. | Silver coins, e.g. highlights of medallic art | German coins after 1871, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2025.
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