France 1603-L 1/4 ecu

from the Mountain Groan Collection

This specimen was struck by the hammer at Bayonne during the reign of Henry IV, founder of the Bourbon dynasty (1589-1793). This was the largest silver coin regularly struck in France prior to the introduction of milled coinage in the 1640's.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 9.71 g, .917 fine silver.

Catalog reference: Duplessy 1222.

Source:

• 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.
• Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.

Link to:

• 1602-K quart d'écu
• 1602 quart d'écu du Béarn, Morlaàs mint
• 1603-A denier tournois
• 1603-D ½ franc
• 1603-H quart d'écu
• 1603-K quart d'écu
• 1603-T quart d'écu
• 1603-Z quart d'écu du Dauphiné
• 1604-A double tournois
• 1604-L quart d'écu
• Coins and currency dated 1603
• return to French Royal coinage (to 1793)