France 1696-H 1/2 ecu

from the Mountain Groan Collection

The specimen shown is an demi-écu aux palmes ("écu with palms") struck in La Rochelle during the reign of Louis XIV. This type was struck 1693-1701 in large quantities, mostly overstriking older half écus ("flans reformés"--the specimen shown is struck over a 1691-H ½ écu). It was succeeded by the demi-écu aux insignes. Droulers^[1] prices this date as scarce, but even a common date is priced 20% higher than a demi-écu à la mèche longue.

Recorded mintage: "tres peu"^[1], all "flans reformés."

Specification: 13.72 g, .917 fine silver, 32-35 mm diameter, edge lettered DOMINE SALVVM FAC REGEM, designed by Joseph Roëttiers.

Catalog reference: Dr/4 no. 618, Dr/2 no. 412.

Source:

• ^[1]Droulers, Frédéric, Répertoire General des Monnaies de Louis XIII à Louis XVI (1610-1792), 4e édition. Paris: AFPN, 2009.
• Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
• Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
• Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Royales Françaises, 1610-1792, 4me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2012.

Links to:

• 1654-Y demi-écu à la mèche longue
• 1685-X ½ écu
• 1696-D quart d'écu aux palmes
• 1695-9 demi-écu aux palmes
• 1696-X demi-écu aux palmes
• 1696-W demi-écu carambole
• 1696-P écu aux palmes
• 1696-X écu aux palmes
• 1696-AA louis d'or aux quatre L
• 1696-T louis d'or aux 4 L
• 1696-BB double louis d'or
• 1697-I demi-écu aux palmes
• Coins and currency dated 1696
• return to French royal coinage (to 1793)