France 1696-W 1/2 ecu de Flandre

from the Mountain Groan Collection

close up of the date

The specimen shown is an demi-écu de Flandre ("half écu of Flanders") struck in Lille during the reign of Louis XIV of France. This type was struck 1693-99 in small quantities for the newly annexed province of Flanders. It was of lower fineness yet heavier than the standard half écu aux palmes, which was also struck in Lille in 1693-1700. Droulers^[1] prices this type and the larger écu as rare in all grades. It is also known as the demi-écu carambole.

Recorded mintage: 91,538^[1]

Specification: 18.82 g, .857 fine silver, 34 mm diameter, edge lettered DOMINE SALVVM FAC REGEM CHRISTIANISSVM, designed by Joseph Roëttiers.

Catalog reference: Dr/4 № 620, Dr/2 № 489.

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.
• Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
• Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Royales Françaises, 1610-1792, 5me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2018.

Links to:

• 1695-W seizième d'écu de Flandre aux palmes
• 1695-9 demi-écu aux palmes
• 1695-W huitième d'écu de Flandre aux palmes
• 1695-A demi-écu aux palmes
• 1696-D quart d'écu aux palmes
• 1696-C demi-écu aux palmes
• 1696-H demi-écu aux palmes
• 1696-X demi-écu aux palmes
• 1695-E écu aux palmes
• 1695-A louis d'or aux 4 L
• 1696-P écu aux palmes
• 1696-X écu aux palmes
• 1701-A demi-écu aux insignes
• Coins and currency dated 1696
• return to French royal coinage (to 1793)