France 1610-B ecu d'or

Jean Elsen sale 145, lot 1090

This specimen was lot 1090 in Jean Elsen sale 145 (Brussels, September 2020), where it sold for €4,800 (about US$6,840 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"FRANCE, Royaume, Henri IV (1589-1610), AV écu d'or au soleil, 1610B, Rouen. D/ Ecu de France couronné, sous un soleil. R/ Ecu de France couronné, sous un soleil. Les légendes débutant en bas. Très rare. Très Beau. Provient de Spink, Londres, juilet 1998. (kingdom of France, Henry IV, 1589-1610, gold écu of the sunburst of 1610, Rouen mint. Obverse: crowned arms of France under a sunburst; reverse: crowned arms of France under a sunburst [sic]. Very rare, Very Fine.)"

The écus d'or of Henry IV are much scarcer than those of his predecessor Henry III or successor Louis XIII. In fact, this is the first example we have posted on the wiki. An even rarer variety exists (Fr-394) where four "H's" are incorporated into the cross on the reverse.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 3.37 g, .958 fine gold, plain edge, this specimen 3,32 g.

Catalog reference: Fr-392, Dupl-1201A; Laf. 1048 var.; Ci. 1500.

Source:

• Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
• 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.
• Roberts, James N., The Silver Coins of Medieval France (476-1610 AD), S. Salem, NY: Attic Books, 1996.
• Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
• ^[1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 145, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2020.

Link to:

• 1593-B écu d'or au soleil, Charles X
• 1610-T double tournois, Henry IV
• 1610-L huitième d'écu
• 1615-B écu d'or au soleil, Louis XIII
• Coins and currency dated 1610
• return to French royal coinage (to 1793)