France 1793-AA 6 livres

Jean Elsen sale 135, lot 1427

This specimen was lot 1427 in Jean Elsen sale 135 (Brussels, December 2017), where it sold for €550 (about US$762 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"FRANCE, Convention (1792-1795), AR écu de six livres, 1793AA, an 2, Metz. Avec épée dans l'aile. D/ Génie deb. à d., inscrivant la constitution sur une table. A g., un faisceau. A d., un coq. R/ Valeur dans une couronne. Rare. Très Beau. (France, Convention, 1792-95, silver écu of six livres of 1793, year 2, Metz mint, with sword in wing. Obverse: Standing Genius to right, inscribing the Constitution with privy marks fasces and cock; reverse: value, a wreath around. Rare, Very Fine.)"

This coin is popular with type collectors as it is the last écu struck to the standard of the ancien régime. When this coin was struck at Metz, the ancien régime had disappeared with the trial and execution of the king, who had appeared on the previous type (KM 615). In 1793, as invading armies approached from all directions, the Committee of Public Safety would initiate the Terror. In 1795, following the introduction of the metric system, the first five francs would be issued.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 0.917 fine silver, 11 deniers (.917 fine), 8.3 pieces to the mark (29.488 g), face value 6 livres, 39 mm diameter. This specimen 29,47 g.

Catalog reference: Dav-1336, Gad-58; KM 624.2.

Source:

Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
^[1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 135, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils, S.A., 2017.

Link to:

France 1793-AA 6 livres

Navigation menu

Search