France 1562-K ecu d'or

Goldberg NY International sale 58, lot 1036

This specimen was lot 1036 in Goldberg's NY International sale 58 (New York, January 2023), where it sold for $2,400. The catalog description^[1] noted, "France. Charles IX (1560-1574). Gold Ecu d'or, 1562-K. Bordeaux mint. Crowned Ecu of France, sun above. Rev. Floriated cross. Pop 1; Only one graded by both services. In NGC holder graded MS 61." This coin is called the écu d'or au soleil in Duplessy with a face value of fifty sols tournois and is noted with many variations in obverse and reverse legends. In his survey, Sombart found two of this date, making it more common than the paltry mintage would suggest. The archives show that Bordeaux struck this type 1562-75.

Recorded mintage: 870^[2].

Specification: 3.37 g, .958 fine gold, this specimen 3.36 g.

Catalog reference: Fr-378; Dup 1057; Sb 4904 (2 ex.).

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.
• ^[2]Sombart, Stéphan, Franciae IV: Catalogue des Monnaies Royales Françaises de François Ier à Henri IV (1540-1610), Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 1997.
• ^[1]Goldberg, Ira, Stephen Harvey and Vera Kan, Goldberg NY International 2023 Sale, Los Angeles: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, 2022.

Links to:

• 1561-B henri d'or
• 1562-D teston
• 1562-H teston
• 1562-L teston
• 1562-Z teston du Dauphiné
• 1562-A écu d'or au soleil
• 1562-D écu d'or au soleil
• 1562-N écu d'or au soleil
• 1562-9 écu d'or au soleil
• 1563-B écu d'or au soleil
• 1563-C écu d'or au soleil
• Coins and currency dated 1562
• return to French royal coinage (to 1793)