France 1773-L ecu

Heritage sale 3032, lot 24652

This specimen was lot 24652 in Heritage sale 3032 (Chicago, April 2014), where it sold for $1,527.50. The catalog description^[1] noted, "Louis XV Écu à la vieille tête 1773-L, Bayonne mint, AU58 NGC. Large and stately with golden-gray surfaces and legends ablaze in amber hues. Barely any signs of wear with only a few obverse hairlines and reverse adjustment marks. An incredibly bold piece with dramatic eye-appeal and currently the finest-known graded example from this mint." This coin, called a écu à la vieille tête, was the French equivalent of a dollar. The type was struck 1770-74 and is recorded for fourteen mints. The type is common, despite its short run, but usually comes badly made so choice specimens bring a premium. The 1773-L from the Bayonne mint is one of the commonest dates (1772-L, 1773-L, 1774-A, 1774-L).

Recorded mintage: 1,308,667.

Specification: 29.49 g, 0.917 fine silver, 39-42 mm diameter, lettered edge.

Catalog reference: Dr/2 № 589, Dr/4 № 821, KM 551.1, Dav-1332.

Source:

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.
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.
^[1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and David Michaels, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3032, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2014.

Link to:

France 1773-L ecu

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