France 1689-A ecu
This specimen was lot 20829 in Heritage sale 3004 (New York, January 2009), where it sold for $6,325. The catalog description[1] noted, "Louis XIIII Ecu 1689A, AU55 NGC. Paris mint. Ecu Blanc-Large Bust (i.e. Bust of 1690-1693/Milled Edge). The bust closely resembles that of the Ecu aux 8L-Type I. Apparently minted in the last year of the type by the Paris mint. Definitely known from the Paris mint/1689 but at present unknown from any other mint. Full, bold even strike. Moderately toned. A very rare subtype of a very scarce type. Seldom available in this condition. Ex: Hess/Divo-Auction 293: Lot 74. From the Grundy Collection." This type is listed in Gadoury as the écu à la perruque ("écu of the wig") and in Droulers as the écu drapé à l'antique. Struck 1684-89 from only a few mints and nearly completely restruck in the ensuing reformations, this is one of the rarest of French coin types. Half écus (Gad-181) also exist but are even rarer.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 27.45 g, 0.917 fine silver, edge lettered "DOMINE SALVUM FAC REGEM", designed by Norbert Roëttiers; this specimen 27.41 g.
Catalog reference: Dav-3809, Gad-214, Dr/4 № 500, Dr/2 № 390B, KM 255.1.
- 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.
- Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Royales Françaises, 1610-1792, 5me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2018.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1600-1700, Galesburg, IL, 1974.
- [1]Tucker, Warren, and Scott Cordry, Heritage Signature Auction 3004: World Coins, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2008.
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