France 1720-D 1/3 ecu

Heritage sale 61259, lot 99086

This specimen was lot 99086 in Heritage sale 61259 (Dallas, TX, February 2022), where it sold for $720. The catalog description^[1] noted, "France: Louis XV 1/3 Ecu 1720-D XF Details (Cleaned) NGC, Lyon mint. 1/3 Ecu de France. The sheer paucity of examples seen on the market in recent decades confirms the rarity of the piece at hand, regardless of its status as Flan Neuf or Flan Reforme. While the piece lacks a notable trefoil below the bust, the presence of details from a potential earlier host or a double-strike rotation call into question any possible attribution." This type was struck 1720-23 in large numbers while the adventurer John Law dominated the French government. Many were struck over petit Louis d'argent struck in 1720. Worth 3 livres on its introduction, it was reduced in steps to 1 livre 6 sols 8 deniers in September 1724. This example has the wrong obverse.

Recorded mintage: 41,834 fn plus 481,154 rf^[2], a better date despite the substantial mintage.

Specification: 8.15 g, 0.917 fine silver, 26-28 mm diameter, reeded edge, designed by Norbert Roëttiers.

Catalog reference: Dr/2 № 568A, Dr/4 № 832A, KM 457.6, Gad-306, Dupl-1667B/C.

Source:

^[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.
Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
^[1]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, The Long Island Collection of French Coins Showcase Auction #61259, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2022.

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France 1720-D 1/3 ecu

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