France 1607-C 1/4 ecu

from Stack's Bowers 2016 ANA sale, lot 22286

This specimen was lot 22286 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Anaheim, CA, August 2016), where it sold for $376. The catalog description^[1] noted, "FRANCE. 1/4 Ecu, 1607-C. Saint Lo Mint. Henry IV (1589-1610). NGC MS-63. Finest graded at NGC by an incredible 8 point margin. Boldly struck with terrific luster and very minimal doubling." This specimen was struck by the hammer at St.-Lô in Normandy during the reign of Henry IV, founder of the Bourbon dynasty (1589-1793). This was the largest silver coin regularly struck in France prior to the introduction of milled coinage in the 1640's. Duplessy notes this type for the St.-Lô and Rennes mints. It varies from the design used at other mints by having crowns at the ends of the cross rather than fleurs-de-lys.

Recorded mintage: 80,514.

Specification: 9.71 g, 0.917 fine silver.

Catalog reference: KM-28; Duplessy-1230, Sb-4682.

Source:

• Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
• Roberts, James N., The Silver Coins of Medieval France (476-1610 AD), S. Salem, NY: Attic Books, 1996.
• Sombart, Stéphan, Franciae IV: Catalogue des Monnaies Royales Françaises de François Ier à Henri IV (1540-1610), Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 1997.
• Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
• ^[1]Ponterio, Richard, The August 2016 Anaheim ANA Auction: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2016.

Link to:

• 1606-C quart d'écu, croix batonnée et couronnée de face
• 1606 quart d'écu du Béarn
• 1607-Z denier tournois
• 1607-D double tournois
• 1607-A demi-franc, piéfort
• 1607-A franc, quadruple piefort
• 1607-T quart d'écu au marteau
• Nevers and Rethel 1608 1/4 ecu
• 1609-St. Palais quart d'écu
• Coins and currency dated 1607
• return to French royal coinage (to 1793)