France 1705-W ecu
This specimen was lot 1345 in Jean Elsen sale 141 (Brussels, June 2019), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Royaume, Louis XIV (1643-1715), AR écu aux huit L, 1705W, Lille. 2e type. 4e réformation. Avec poinçon d'effigie de l'écu aux palmes. D/ B. à d., cuirassé à l'antique. R/ Croix formée de huit L couronnés, cantonnée de quatre lis, avec écu de France rond au centre. Extrêmement rare Nettoyé. Très Beau. (kingdom of France, Louis XIV, 1643-1715, silver écu of the eight "L's" of 1705, Lille mint, second type, fourth reformation, with the bust of the écu of the palms. Obverse: armored bust right; reverse: cross formed of eight crowned "L's", cantonned with four lilies, with the round arms of France at the center. Extremely rare, cleaned, Very Fine.)"
Shown is a écu aux huit L, deuxieme type ("écu with 8 L's, 2nd type") struck at the Lille mint in the last years of Louis XIV's reign. The type was struck until 1709; there are also quarter and half écus struck during this period with this design. The obverse die is leftover from the earlier buste du type au palmes. This is a slightly better date.
Recorded mintage: 18,239 fn + unknown rf[2].
Specification: 27.45 g, 0.917 fine silver, edge lettered DOMINE SALVVM FAC REGEM, this specimen 26,86 g.
Catalog reference: Dr/4 № 519, Dr/2 № 437, Dupl-1551B; Gad-224, Dav-1320.
- 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.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1700-1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Royales Françaises, 1610-1792, 5me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2018.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 141, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils, S.A., 2019.
Links to:
- France 1705-AA 10 sols
- 1705-A quart d'écu aux huit L
- 1705-W quart d'écu aux huit L
- 1705-BB 33 sols de Strasbourg
- 1705-A demi-écu aux huit L
- 1705-A écu aux huit L, deuxieme type
- 1705-L écu aux huit L, deuxieme type
- 1705-S écu aux huit L, deuxieme type
- 1705-T écu aux huit L, deuxieme type
- 1705-A louis d'or aux insignes
- 1705-L louis d'or aux insignes
- 1705-A double louis d'or aux insignes aux cheveux longs
- 1705-W double louis d'or aux insignes aux cheveux longs
- Coins and currency dated 1705
- return to French royal coinage (to 1793)