France 1733-& 1/2 ecu
This specimen was lot 39119 in Stack's Bowers Winter sale (Baltimore, November 2015), where it sold for $528.75. The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE. 1/2 Ecu, 1733-&. Aix Mint. Louis XV (1715-74). NGC MS-62. The only example seen at NGC or PCGS. A bright coin displaying steely gray luster with well defined devices and slight weakness through the legends. Several areas of flan deterioration offer a glimpse into the metallurgy issues faced in Aix when preparing the flans at that time. A few light adjustment marks on the reverse bear testament to the style of manufacture back then, with the portrait spared any damage. A great looking piece overall, and a nice companion coin to the 1733-& Ecu also offered in this auction."
The Aix mint was one of the leading producers of this denomination 1726-32, after which production dwindled. The type was struck 1726-40 during the reign of Louis XV of France. This coin was part of the great coinage reform of Cardinal Fleury which finally terminated the manipulations which had disrupted the economy since the 1690's.
Recorded mintage: 71,712[1], a rather scarce date.
Specification: 14.74 g, 0.917 fine silver, 31-33 mm diameter, edge lettered DOMINE SALVUM FAC REGEM.
Catalog reference: Duplessy 1676; Gadoury 313, KM 484.26, Dr/4 № 827, Dr/2 № 580.
- [1]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.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Royales Françaises, 1610-1792, 4me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2012
- [2]Ponterio, Richard, and Todd McKenna, The November 2015 Baltimore Auction, World Coins and Paper Money, featuring the Ray Czabor Collection and selections from the Strong Museum, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2015.
Link to:
- 1730-B demi-écu aux branches d'olivier
- 1730-V demi-écu aux branches d'olivier
- 1733-9 vingtième d'écu aux branches d'olivier
- 1733-P demi-écu aux branches d'olivier
- 1733-A écu aux branches d'olivier
- 1733-L écu aux branches d'olivier
- 1733-P écu aux branches d'olivier
- 1733-V écu aux branches d'olivier
- 1733-Y écu aux branches d'olivier
- 1733-& écu aux branches d'olivier
- 1733-I demi-louis d'or aux lunettes
- 1733-A louis d'or aux lunettes
- 1733-D louis d'or aux lunettes
- 1733-H louis d'or aux lunettes
- 1733-I louis d'or aux lunettes
- 1733-N louis d'or aux lunettes
- Coins and currency dated 1733
- return to French royal coinage (to 1793)