France 1734-M ecu

photo courtesy Stack's

This specimen was lot 462 in Stack's Coin Galleries sale (New York, October 2010), where it sold for $126.50. The catalog description^[1] noted,

"FRANCE. Louis XV, 1715-1774. Écu aux Lauriers, 1734. M. Toulouse. Military bust r. Rv. Crowned arms within olive wreath. Sobin Type 21. Although 86,000 were minted at this facility in 1734, Sobin does not list it in his The Silver Crowns of France. Deep gray toning and honest wear. Choice Fine."

This type, the écu aux branches d'olivier, was struck 1726-40 in large quantities from many mints. Toulouse ("M") is recorded for 1726-28, 1730-40. Droulers^[2] notes this date as scarce.

Recorded mintage: 85,680.

Specification: 29.49 g, 0.917 fine silver, 39-41 mm diameter, edge lettered DOMINE SALVUM FAC REGEM, designed by Norbert Roëttiers.

Catalog reference: Gad.321, Dav-1330, Dr/4 № 819, Dr/2 № 579, KM 486.13.

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.
• 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.
• ^[1]Kraljevich, John, Frank Van Valen and Christine Karstedt, Coin Galleries Mail and Internet Bid Sale, New York: Stack's, 2010.

Link to:

• 1733-L écu aux branches d'olivier
• 1734-A écu aux branches d'olivier
• 1734-K écu aux branches d'olivier
• 1734-N écu aux branches d'olivier
• 1734-P écu aux branches d'olivier
• 1734-Q écu aux branches d'olivier
• 1734-T écu aux branches d'olivier
• 1735-A écu aux branches d'olivier
• 1734-& écu aux branches d'olivier
• 1734-A louis d'or aux lunettes
• 1734-D louis d'or aux lunettes
• 1734-K louis d'or aux lunettes
• 1734-S louis d'or aux lunettes
• 1734-T louis d'or aux lunettes
• 1734-9 louis d'or aux lunettes
• Coins and currency dated 1734
• return to French royal coinage (to 1793)