France 1692-H 1/4 ecu

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from Jean Elsen sale 132, lot 778

This specimen was lot 778 in Jean Elsen sale 132 (Brussels, March 2017), where it sold for €140 (about US$177 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,

"FRANCE, Royaume, Louis XIV (1643-1715), AR quart d'écu aux huit L, 1692H, La Rochelle. 1er type. 1e réformation. D/ B. dr. à d. R/ Croix formée de huit L couronnés, cantonnés de quatre lis. Très rare. Beau à Très Beau. (kingdom of France, Louis XIV (1643-1715), silver quarter écu of the eight "L's" of 1692, La Rochelle mint, first type, first reformation. Obverse: draped bust to right; reverse: cross formed of eight crowned "L's" with four fleurs-de-lys in the fields. Very Rare, Fine to Very fine.)"

The specimen shown is a quart d'écu aux 8 L struck in La Rochelle during the reign of Louis XIV. This date is unlisted in Gadoury or Droulers and is presumably rare. This type was struck 1690-93 in small quantities, mostly overstriking older quarter écus ("flans reformés"--altho the specimen shows little undertype). It was succeeded by the quart d'écu aux palmes, which is quite a bit more available.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 6.86 g, 0.917 fine silver, 27-28 mm diameter, reeded edge, lettered edge; this specimen is 6,59 g.

Catalog reference: Dr/4 № 689H, Dr/2 № 403, Dupl-1516A; Gad-150 (non répertorié); L4L 247 (non répertorié).

Source:

  • 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.
  • [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 132, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2017.

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