France 1772-L 1/5 ecu

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Jean Elsen sale 141, lot 1464

This specimen was lot 1464 in Jean Elsen sale 141 (Brussels, June 2019), where it sold for €120 (about US$159 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,

"FRANCE, Royaume, Louis XV (1715-1774), AR cinquième d'écu à la vieille tête, 1772L, Bayonne. D/ T. l. à g. R/ Ecu de France couronné, entre deux rameaux d'olivier. Rare. Beau à Très Beau. (kingdom of France, Louis XV, 1715-74, silver fifth écu of the old head of 1772, Bayonne mint. Obverse: laureate head left; reverse: crowned arms of France between two olive branches. Rare, Fine - Very Fine.)"

This coin, called a cinquième d'écu à la vieille tête, was the equivalent of a twenty cent piece. In the coinage system of the ancien régime, the cinquième d'écu = 24 sols. The type was struck 1771-74 and is recorded from three mints (Paris, Bayonne, Strasbourg). It is a scarce type.

Recorded mintage: unknown[2], but a available date.

Specification: 5.89 g, 0.917 fine silver, 26 mm diameter, reeded edge, this specimen is 5,79 g.

Catalog reference: Dr/4 № 842, Dr/2 № 592, Dupl-1687; Gad-300.

Source:

  • Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
  • [2]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.
  • Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Royales Françaises, 1610-1792, 5me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2018.
  • [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 141, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils, S.A., 2019.

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