View source for France 1558 ecu au moulin

[[Image:France 1558 ecu Sincona 5-10.jpg|550px|thumb|Sincona sale 5, lot 10]]

This specimen was lot 10 in Sincona sale 5 (Zurich, May 2012), where it sold for 21,000 CHF (about US$25,841 with buyer's fees). The catalog description<sup>[1]</sup> noted, <blockquote>"''FRANKREICH Henri II. 1547-1559. Ecu au Moulin 1558, Paris. Av. + HENRICVS. II. GALLIAR – REX CHRISTIANISS. PP Geharnischtes, belorbeertes Brustbild nach rechts. Rv. + DONEC TOTVM COMPLEAT ORBEM 1558 Gekrönte Mondsichel. Selten. Rv. Kr. Patina. Gutes vorzüglich.'' ([[France]], Henry II, 1547-59, ''écu au moulin'' of 1558, Paris mint. Obverse: armored, laureate bust to right; reverse: crowned crescent moon. Rare, a few minor nicks, toned, good extremely fine.)"</blockquote>  This coin, an "écu of the mill", is in complete contrast to the crude [[France 1559-K teston|hammered coinage]] then pouring out of French mints. The moneyers guild resisted the introduction of milled coinage as a threat to their livelihood until the 1640's. This coin must be regarded as a pattern.

''Recorded mintage:'' unknown.

''Specification:'' silver; this specimen is 20,40 g. 

''Catalog reference:'' Duplessy -. Ciani 1263. 

''[[Bibliography|Source:]]''
* <sup>[2]</sup>Duplessy, Jean, ''Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 2e édition,'' Paris: Maison Platt, 1999. 
* <sup>[1]</sup>''Numismatic Coins, Medals, Banknotes & Books: Auction 6,'' Zurich: SINCONA AG, 2012. 

''Link to:''
* [[France 1558-A teston|1558-A ''teston au moulin'']]
* [[France 1558-B henri d'or|1558-B ''henri d'or'']]
* [[France 1558-H 2 henri d'or|1558-H ''double henri d'or'']]
* [[France 1559-K teston]]
* [[France 1566-B ecu d'or]]
* [[France 1577-E 1/2 franc]]
* [[Coins and currency dated 1558]]
* return to [[French royal coinage (to 1793)]]

[[Category: Silver minors of France]][[Category:Selections from Sincona sale 5, 6]]