France 1595-L 1/4 ecu
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, .917 fine silver, this specimen 9.66 g.
Catalog reference: Duplessy 1224. Ciani 1517, Sb-4686.
- 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.
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