France 1774-B ecu

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CNG Lissner sale, lot 293

This specimen was lot 293 in Classical Numismatic Group's sale of the Lissner Collection (Chicago, August 2014), where it sold for $6,050. The catalog description[1] noted, "FRANCE, Royal. Louis XV le Bien-Aimé (the Well-Beloved). 1715–1774. AR Écu au bandeau «à la vieille tête». Rouen mint; différents: swan/cow. Nicolas Anselme Belin(?), engraver. Guillaume Pantin, director. Dated 1774 B. In NGC encapsulation graded MS 62. Choice lustrous faintly toned BU. This is the finest “à la vieille tête” we have ever seen and the highest ever graded. A wonder coin for type. Ex Irving Goodman Collection (Superior Stamp & Coin, 2 June 1996), lot 3558." The long reign of Louis XV (1715-74) saw many coin types come and go. The first part of the reign, while Louis was a child, was a period of monetary confusion and manipulation. The reforms of Cardinal Fleury (1726) stabilized the fiscal situation until the total collapse at the eve of the Revolution. Numismatically, this period can be divided into three epochs, marked by the écu aux branches d’olivier (1726-40), the écu au bandeau (1740-72) and the écu à la vielle tête (1770-74). This specimen belongs to the late period. This type is notorious for bad strikes and heavy adjustment marks and most survivors have been harshly cleaned.

Recorded mintage: 51,115[2].

Specification: silver, 11 deniers (.917 fine), 8.3 pieces to the mark (29.488 g), face value 6 livres, 39 mm diameter. Engraved by Joseph-Charles Röettiers, this specimen 39 mm diameter, 29.41 g, 6h axis.

Catalog reference: Dav-1332, Duplessy 1685; Ciani 2129; KM 551.3; Dr/4 № 821, Dr/2 № 589.

Sources:

  • Alhéritière, Edouard, and Ludovic Deswelle, "Les écus de Louis XV de bandeau: point de situation," Numismatique et Change, No. 349 [Mai 2004], pp. 61-63.
  • George Sobin, Jr., The Silver Crowns of France, 1640-1973. Teaneck, NJ: Richard Margolis, 1974.
  • Clairand, Armand, Monnaies de Louis XV, Le temps de la Stabilité Monetaire, 1726-1774, Paris: Maison Platt, 1996.
  • [2]Droulers, Frédéric, Répertoire General des Monnaies de Louis XIII à Louis XVI (1610-1792), 2nd édition. Paris: AFPN, 1998.
  • Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
  • 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.
  • Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Royales Françaises, 1610-1792, 5me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2018.
  • [1]Teller, M. Louis, and Victor England, Jr., The Richard Lissner Collection, Lancaster, PA: Classical Numismatic Group, 2014.

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