France 1595-L 1/4 ecu

Sincona sale 47, lot 1633

This specimen was lot 1633 in Sincona sale 47 (Zurich, May 2018), where it sold for 120 CHF (about US$144 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"FRANKREICH, Konigreich, Henri IV. 1589-1610. 1/4 Ecu 1595 L, Bayonne. Vorzüglich. Feine Patina. (kingdom of France, Henry IV, 1589-1610, quarter écu of 1595, Bayonne mint. Extremely fine, Nicely toned.)"

This specimen was struck by the hammer during the reign of Henry IV, founder of the Bourbon dynasty (1589-1793). It is a product of the Bayonne mint. This was the largest silver coin regularly struck in France prior to the introduction of milled coinage in the 1640's.

Recorded mintage: 38,292 (Sossiondo) plus 136,171 (Manolz).

Specification: 9.71 g, 0.917 fine silver, this specimen 9.66 g.

Catalog reference: Duplessy 1224. Ciani 1517, 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]Richter, Jürg, Auction 47, World Coins and Medals, Coins and Medals from Switzerland, Zurich: Sincona AG, 2018.

Link to:

• 1593-T quart d'écu au marteau, Charles X
• 1594-T quart d'écu, Charles X
• 1594-99 quart d'écu, Charles X
• 1595-N double tournois
• 1595-C douzain aux deux H
• 1595-Z douzain du Dauphiné
• 1595-K demi-franc
• 1596 quart d'écu du Béarn, Morlaàs mint
• 1597-L quart d'écu au marteau
• Coins and currency dated 1595
• return to French royal coinage (to 1793)