France 1777-M ecu
This specimen was lot 31264 in Heritage sale 3029 (New York, January 2014), where it sold for $1,292.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "Louis XVI Ecu 1777-M, AU58 NGC. Lightly toned and well-struck for the issue with shimmering underlying surfaces." This coin, called a écu au buste habillé, was the French equivalent of a dollar. It is one of a type struck at Bayonne 1775-91. Its divisions were the ½, 1/5, 1/10 and 1/20 écu, struck in modest quantities. The écu was worth $1.10 in the USA before the Civil War. The écu au buste habillé is the most popular coin of Louis XVI among collectors.
Recorded mintage: 354,627 (a rather common date).
Specification: 29.49 g, .917 fine silver, 39-42 mm diameter, lettered edge.
Catalog reference: Gad-356, Dr/4 no. 883, Dr/2 no. 616, KM 564.10, Dav-1333.
- Droulers, Frédéric, Répertoire General des Monnaies de Louis XIII à Louis XVI (1610-1792), 4e édition. Paris: AFPN, 2009.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1700-1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Stuart Levine and Bruce Lorich, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3029, featuring Selections from the Eric P. Newman Collection, Part III, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2013.
Link to:
- France 1777-W sol
- 1777-A cinquième d'écu au buste habillé
- 1777-Pau 1/5 écu au buste habillé
- 1777-A demi-écu au buste habillé
- 1777-T demi écu au buste habillé
- 1777-L écu au buste habillé
- 1777-D double louis d'or au buste habillé
- 1777-I double louis d'or au buste habillé
- 1777-K double louis d'or au buste habillé
- 1777-W double louis d'or au buste habillé
- 1778-M écu au buste habillé
- Coins and currency dated 1777
- return to French royal coinage (to 1793)