France 1765-L 1/2 ecu

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Heritage sale 3026, lot 24523
France 1765L demi ecu rev H3026-24523.jpg
Jean Elsen sale 147, lot 1593

The first specimen was lot 24523 in Heritage sale 3026 (Long Beach, October 2013), where it sold for $1,527.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "Louis XV 1/2 Ecu 1765-L, Bayonne, MS63 NGC, a lovely mint state coin with aged silvery-gray and blue-green cabinet patina. The details are strong on both sides, but the bust features are exceptional. The final digit of the date may be a 6 punched over a 5. Highly elusive type in UNC." The second specimen was lot 1593 in Jean Elsen sale 147 (Brussels, June 2021), where it sold for €400 (about US$585 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,

"FRANCE, Royaume, Louis XV (1715-1774), AR demi-écu au bandeau, 1765L, Bayonne. D/ T. à g., ceinte d'un bandeau. R/ Ecu de France couronné, entre deux rameaux d'olivier. Petit défaut de flan dans le champ. Rare dans cette qualité. presque Superbe. Provient de notre vente 76, 13 septembre 2003, 1575. (kingdom of France, Louis XV, 1715-74, silver half écu of the ribbon of 1765, Bayonne mint. Obverse: head left, hair tied in a ribbon; reverse: crowned arms of France between two olive branches. Small planchet defect in the field. Rare in this quality, about Extremely Fine.)"

This coin, called a demi-écu au bandeau, was the French equivalent of a half dollar. In the coinage system of the ancien régime, the half écu = three livres. The type was struck 1741-74 and is recorded for the Bayonne mint ("L") for 1741-70. This specimen is counted as a better date.

Recorded mintage: unknown but common[3].

Specification: 14.74 g, 0.917 fine silver, 31-33 mm diameter, lettered edge, designed by J.-C. Röettiers; the second specimen is 14,56 g.

Catalog reference: Dupl-1681; Gad-314, Dr/4 № 828, Dr/2 № 585, KM 516.11.

Source:

  • [3]Droulers, Frédéric, Répertoire General des Monnaies de Louis XIII à Louis XVI (1610-1792), 4e édition. Paris: AFPN, 2009.
  • Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
  • [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and Scott Cordry, Heritage Signature Auction 3026, World & Ancient Coins, featuring the RLM Collection, Part Two, the Nogales Collection and the Goetz Medals Die Archive, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2013.
  • [2]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 147: Monnaies, Médailles et Décorations, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2021.

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