France 1770-Pau 1/5 ecu

Stack's Bowers 2023 NYINC sale, lot 23117

the same specimen, from the Mountain Groan Collection

This specimen was lot 23117 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2023), where it sold for $1,320. The catalog description^[1] noted, "FRANCE. 24 Sols (1/5 Ecu), 1770. Pau Mint; mm: cow. Louis XV. NGC MS-64. Struck for the province of Bearn, this exciting example offers the constantly demanded type in wonderful near-Gem condition that is certain to tickle and excite the sensibilities of anyone who collects French coinage. The sole finest yet certified by NGC, this example delivers a rich luster and soft patina that gleams and glistens in the light. A tremendous example that is certain to attract much attention. Ex: Fernand David Collection." This coin, called a cinquième d'écu au bandeau, was the equivalent of a twenty cent piece. In the coinage system of the ancien régime, the 1/5 écu = 24 sols. The type was struck 1741-72. Pau struck this type fairly regularly but this date is not listed in Droulers; it is noted as R3 in Gadoury.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 5.59 g, 0.917 fine silver, 26 mm diameter, reeded edge.

Catalog reference: Dr/4 № 841a, Dr/2 № 586a, KM-530; Gad-299A.

Sources:

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]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The January 2023 NYINC Auction: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, featuring the Taraszka Collection and the Mark and Dottie Salton Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.

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France 1770-Pau 1/5 ecu

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