France 1787-R ecu
This specimen is an écu au buste habillé struck at the Orléans mint, one of a type struck there 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. The 1787-R is listed[1] about 50% higher than the most common date (1789-A) but it is not rare. This specimen was lot 32095 in Heritage sale 3040 (Chicago, April 2015), where it sold for $387.75. The catalog description[1] noted, "Louis XVI Ecu 1787-R MS61 NGC. Scarcer provincial Orleans, (R), mint. Some adjustment marks on reverse, yet with admirable slate gray toning and sharply struck. Few available in mint state."
Recorded mintage: 841,843 (a common date).
Catalog reference: Dav-1333; KM 564.14, Dr/4 no. 883, Dr/2 no. 616; Gad-356.
- Droulers, Frédéric, Répertoire General des Monnaies de Louis XIII à Louis XVI (1610-1792), 2nd édition. Paris: AFPN, 1998.
- 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, Warren Tucker and David Michaels, Heritage Signature Auction 3040, featuring the Santa Maria, the Alan Dean and the Valley View Life Collections, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2015.
Link to:
- 1787-R dixième d'écu au buste habillé
- 1787-L écu au buste habillé
- 1787-Pau écu au buste habillé
- 1787-AA louis d'or à la tête nue
- 1787-B louis d'or à la tête nue
- 1787-K louis d'or à la tête nue
- 1787-T louis d'or à la tête nue
- 1787-K double Louis d'or à la tête nue
- 1788-L écu au buste habillé
- Coins and currency dated 1787
- return to French royal coinage (to 1793)