France 1683-B 1/2 ecu
This specimen was lot 1778 in Jean Elsen sale 154 (Brussels, March 2023), where it sold for €360 (about US$466 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Royaume, Louis XIV (1643-1715), AR demi-écu à la cravate, 1683 Rouen, Paris. 2e émission. D/ B. dr. et cuir. à d., portant une perruque et une cravate brodée. R/ Ecu de France couronné. Rare. presque Très Beau. (kingdom of France, Louis XIV, 1643-1715, silver half écu of the necktie of 1683, Rouen mint, second issue. Obverse: draped, peruked and armored bust right, with an embroidered cravat; reverse: crowned arms of France. Rare, about Very Fine)"
The demi-écu à la cravate was struck 1672-86 with many variations. The Droulers catalog number given below is for the first type; Droulers mentions the second type (Dr/4 № 577) for 1684 only. Number 564 is scarce, 577 is rare. Altho this type was struck in moderate numbers, it was the first victim of the "reformations" of the 1690's, rendering it rare.
Recorded mintage: 71,901.
Specification: 13.72 g, 0.917 fine silver, 32-33 mm diameter, plain edge, designed by Nicolas Aury or François Warin, this specimen 13,50 g.
Catalog reference: Dr/4 № 564, Dupl. 1501; Gad. 178.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- 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.
- Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Royales Françaises, 1610-1792, 5me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2018.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 154, Trouvaille de Labuissière, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2023.
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