France 1591-9 1/4 ecu

Jean Elsen sale 109, part of lot 1316

from the Mountain Groan Collection

The first specimen was part of lot 1316 in Jean Elsen sale 109 (Brussels, June 2011) where it sold for 120 euros (about US$203 including buyer's fee). The catalog description^[1] noted, "FRANCE ROYALE, Henri IV (1589-1610), lot de 5 quarts d'écus frappés à Rennes, 2e type, 1591 (photo), 1604 (2), 1605, 1606. Beau à Très Beau." This specimen was struck by the hammer at Rennes 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. It had a face value of fifteen sols tournois.

Recorded mintage: 99,049.

Specification: 9.71 g, 0.917 fine silver.

Catalog reference: Duplessy 1224, Sb-4686.

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.
• ^[1]Elsen, Philippe, Vente Publique 109, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses fils, S.A., 2011.

Link to:

• 1590-H quart d'écu
• 1591-K demi-franc, Saint-Lizier mint, struck by the Catholic League
• 1591-A quart d'écu, Charles X
• 1591-B quart d'écu, Charles X
• 1591-T quart d'écu, Charles X
• 1591-A écu d'or au soleil, Charles X
• 1592-B huitième d'écu, Charles X
• 1597-L quart d'écu
• Coins and currency dated 1591
• return to French royal coinage (to 1793)