France 1779-Pau ecu
This specimen was lot 99233 in Heritage sale 61259 (Dallas, TX, February 2022), where it sold for $149. The catalog description[1] noted, "France: Louis XVI Ecu 1779-(cow) VF35 NGC, Pau mint. Seemingly finer than the assigned grade would suggest, with a preponderance of central wear on the obverse giving way to sharp peripheries that well with iridescent luster." The Pau mint struck this type 1775-91 and this is a common date. Its location in the Pyrenees gave it access to incoming Spanish bullion, resulting in large mintages. The mint closed in 1791 and the Bayonne mint (mintmark "L") took over that role.
Recorded mintage: 1,948,277[2]; fairly common.
Specification: 29.45 g, 0.917 fine silver, 39 mm diameter, lettered edge, designed by Duvivier.
Catalog reference: Dr/4 № 883a, Dr/2 № 616a, KM 572, Dav-1334, Sobin-1316 (R1).
- [2]Droulers, Frédéric, Répertoire General des Monnaies de Louis XIII à Louis XVI (1610-1792), 4e édition. Paris: AFPN, 2009.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1700-1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- 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]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, The Long Island Collection of French Coins Showcase Auction #61259, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2022.
Link to:
- 1778 écu au buste habillé du Béarn
- 1779-W liard à l'écu
- 1779-A vingtième d'écu, bust of Louis XV
- 1779-A dixième d'écu au buste habillé
- 1779-AA dixième d'écu au buste habillé
- 1779-W demi-écu au buste habillé
- 1779-T double louis d'or au buste habillé
- 1779-W double louis d'or au buste habillé
- 1782-A écu au buste habillé
- Coins and currency dated 1779
- return to French royal coinage (to 1793)