France 1773-W ecu

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Aureo sale 261, lot 770
Jean Elsen sale 141, lot 1462

The first specimen was lot 770 in Aureo sale 261 (Barcelona, July 2014), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted,

"1773. Francia. Luis XV. W (Lille). 1 ecu. Rara. EBC-/EBC. (kingdom of France, Louis XV, écu of 1773, Lille mint. Rare, about extremely fine.)"

The second specimen was lot 1462 in Jean Elsen sale 141 (Brussels, June 2019), where it sold for €240 (about US$318 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[2] noted,

"FRANCE, Royaume, Louis XV (1715-1774), AR écu à la vieille tête, 1773W, Lille. D/ T. l. à g. R/ Ecu de France couronné, entre deux rameaux d'olivier. Belle patine. Très Beau. (kingdom of France, Louis XV, 1715-74, silver écu of the old head of 1773, Lille mint. Obverse: laureate head left; reverse: crowned arms of France between two olive branches. Nice patina, Very Fine.)"

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-W from the Lille mint is a somewhat scarce date compared to 1772-L, 1773-L, 1774-A, 1774-L).

Recorded mintage: 20,252.

Specification: 29.49 g, 0.917 fine silver, 39-42 mm diameter, lettered edge; the second specimen is 29,30 g.

Catalog reference: Dupl-1685; Ci. 2129; Gad-323; Dr/2 № 589, Dr/4 № 821, KM 551.17, 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.
  • Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Royales Françaises, 1610-1792, 5me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2018.
  • [1]Sisó, Teresa, Eduardo Domingo and Lluís Lalana, Subasta Pública 261, Barcelona: Aureo y Calicó Subastas, 2014.
  • [2]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 141, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils, S.A., 2019.
  • George Sobin, Jr., The Silver Crowns of France, 1640-1973. Teaneck, NJ: Richard Margolis, 1974.

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