Julich (1393-1402) ecu d'or Fr-1362
This specimen was lot 40242 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2019), where it sold for $20,400. The catalog description[1] noted,
"Remarkable French-Styled Ecu d'Or of Wilhelm III, A Legendary German Gold Rarity. GERMANY. Julich-Cleve-Berg. Ecu d'Or, ND. Wilhelm III (1393-1402). PCGS MS-61 Gold Shield. Obverse: Ruler seated on Gothic throne with sword and shield in the general style of the contemporary French Chaise d'Or; Reverse: Cross bottony in quadrilobe adorned with spiky leaves resembling ivy, quatrefoils in the outer angles. Latin motto: "Christ Conquers, Rules, Commands". At approximately 29 millimeters in diameter, this is the largest diameter gold coin of this pivotal Duchy, nexus of innumerable wars over the succession. Well known as an EXTREME RARITY within all German gold coinage as well, with only three examples known to us; this example, an example that was plated in Delmonte and was sold in a Busso Peu auction in 2007 and a third in the city museum in Dusseldorf. Amazingly, this example reflects centuries of careful handling, retaining virtually all of its original qualities. It is perfectly centered on a completely round flan, with bold crispness and minimal doubling appearing in the designs and satiny luster filling up the reddish-orange tinged surfaces. Almost no marks are seen either, and despite small portions of the legends running off the flan, they remain completely legible on both sides. Truly, a miracle survivor from the late Medieval period - fully museum quality and worthy of placement in a cabinet of important world rarities."
William III was duke of Julich; the merger of Berg, Cleve and Julich occurred later in the sixteenth century.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: gold, this specimen 4.36 grams.
Catalog reference: Fr-1362; Delmonte-593; Noss-130.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- [1]Ponterio, Richard, Kyle Ponterio, Matt Orsini and Cris Chatigny, The January 2019 NYINC Sale: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2018.
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