France 1701-E 1/2 ecu

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Jean Elsen sale 150, lot 1340

This specimen was lot 1340 in Jean Elsen sale 150 (Brussels, March 2022), where it sold for €120 (about US$159 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,

"FRANCE, Royaume, Louis XIV (1643-1715), AR demi-écu aux insignes, 1701E, Tours. 3e réformation. D/ B. à d., cuirassé à l'antique. R/ Ecu de France rond, couronné, brochant sur une main de justice et un sceptre posés en sautoir. Très Beau. (kingdom of France, Louis XIV, 1643-1715, silver half écu of the insignia of 1701, Tours mint, third reformation. Obverse: armored bust right; reverse: round arms of France over a baton and a scepter. Very Fine.)"

The specimen shown is an demi-écu aux insignes ("half écu with insignia") struck in Tours during the reign of Louis XIV. This type was struck 1701-03 in large quantities, almost exclusively by overstriking older half écus ("flans reformés"). It was succeeded by the demi-écu aux 8 L, 2éme type. Droulers[2] prices this date as fairly common, but even a common date is priced 40% higher than a demi-écu aux palmes.

Recorded mintage: unknown but a fairly common date.

Specification: 13.72 g, 0.917 fine silver, edge lettered DOMINE SALVVM FAC REGEM, designed by Joseph Roëttiers, this specimen 13,30 g.

Catalog reference: Dr/4 № 622, Dr/2 № 424, Dupl-1534B; Gad-189.

Source:

  • Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
  • [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.
  • Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Royales Françaises, 1610-1792, 5me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2018.
  • [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 150: Collection J.F.L. Blankenberg, Monnaies de l'Orient Latin, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2022.

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