France 1663-Pau ecu

from the Mountain Groan Collection

The specimen shown is a écu au buste juvénile struck at the Peu mint during the reign of Louis XIV. There are numerous variations of this bust, introduced in 1659 when the king was 21 years old. This type was struck 1663-80 at the Pau mint. The crowned arms of France impaled with Navarre and Béarn mark this as a separate and rare type. Altho the succeeding bust, the écu à la cravate, was introduced in 1672, écus juvéniles are known dated as late as 1680.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 27.45 g, 0.917 fine silver, 38-41 mm diameter, plain edge, designed by Jean Warin.

Catalog reference: Dr/4 № 451, Dr/2 № 326, KM 216, Dav-3804, Dupl-1490; Gad-208.

Sources:

• Droulers, Frédéric, Répertoire General des Monnaies de Louis XIII à Louis XVI (1610-1792), 4e édition. Paris: AFPN, 2009.
• Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
• Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
• Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Royales Françaises, 1610-1792, 5me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2018.
• George Sobin, Jr., The Silver Crowns of France, 1640-1973. Teaneck, NJ: Richard Margolis, 1974.
• Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1600-1700, Galesburg, IL, 1974.

Link to:

• 1663-& douzième d'écu au buste juvénile
• 1663-L écu au buste juvénile
• 1664-L écu au buste juvénile
• 1664-9 écu au buste juvénile
• 1664 écu du Béarn au buste juvénile, Pau mint
• Coins and currency dated 1663
• return to French royal coinage (to 1793)