France 1705-A 1/2 ecu

from the Mountain Groan Collection

Shown is a 1705 demi-écu aux 8 L of an unknown mint. Note strong evidence of an undertype; this coin usually comes struck over an earlier half écu, Droulers^[1] notes that all known specimens from this mint are overstruck. The mintmark did not strike up but we have filed this specimen under Paris as that mint was the largest producer. The bulk were struck 1704-05 but a few are known dated as late as 1709. It is the second demi-écu aux 8 L as the first demi-écu aux 8 L was issued 1690-93.

Recorded mintage: common, all "flans reformées".

Specification: 13.72 g, 0.917 fine silver, 32-35 mm diameter, edge lettered DOMINE SALVVM FAC REGEM, designed by Joseph Roëttiers.

Catalog reference: Dr/4 No. 628, Dr/2 № 439.

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.
• Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
• Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Royales Françaises, 1610-1792, 5me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2018.

Links to:

• 1691-H demi-écu aux 8 L
• 1702-D demi-écu aux insignes
• 1705-AA 10 sols aux quatre couronnes
• 1705-BB 10 sols aux quatre couronnes
• 1705-A quart d'écu aux huit L
• 1705-W quart d'écu aux huit L
• 1705-BB 33 sols de Strasbourg
• 1705-C demi-écu aux 8 L
• 1705-W demi-écu de Flandre
• 1705-A écu aux huit L
• 1705-L écu aux huit L, deuxieme type
• 1705-S écu aux huit L, deuxieme type
• 1705-T écu aux huit L, deuxieme type
• 1705-W écu aux huit L, deuxieme type
• 1705-A louis d'or aux insignes
• 1705-L louis d'or aux insignes
• 1705-A double louis d'or aux insignes aux cheveux longs
• 1705-W double louis d'or aux insignes aux cheveux longs
• 1710-A demi-écu
• Coins and currency dated 1705
• return to French royal coinage (to 1793)