France 1682-9 ecu
This specimen was lot 1127 in Jean Elsen sale 145 (Brussels, September 2020), where it sold for €800 (about US$1,140 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Royaume, Louis XIV (1643-1715), AR écu à la cravate, 16829, Rennes. 2e émission. D/ B. dr. et cuir. à d., portant une perruque et une cravate brodée. R/ Ecu de France couronné. Rare Nombreuses traces d'ajustage. Belle patine. Superbe. Provient de Weil, Paris, novembre 2002. (kingdom of France, Louis XIV, 1643-1715, silver écu of the necktie of 1682, Rouen mint, second emission. Obverse: draped and armored bust right, wearing an embroidered cravat; reverse: crowned arms of France. Rare, many adjustment marks, nice patina, Extremely Fine.)"
The écu à la cravate was struck 1672-85 in fairly large quantities but was the victim of repeated "reformations," where older écus were called in and restruck. As a result, the type is rare today. It was succeeded by the écu drapé à l'antique of 1684-87. Droulers[2] prices this date as common, but even a common date is priced over three times that of an écu à la mèche longue.
Recorded mintage: 298,614.
Specification: 27.45 g, .917 fine silver, 37-41 mm diameter, plain edge, designed by F. Warin, the second specimen 27,31 g.
Catalog reference: Dr/4 no. 482, Dr/2 no. 357, Dav-3805; Dupl-1493; Gad-210.
- [2]Droulers, Frédéric, Répertoire General des Monnaies de Louis XIII à Louis XVI (1610-1792), 2nd édition. Paris: AFPN, 1998.
- Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1600-1700, Galesburg, IL, 1974.
- Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Royales Françaises, 1610-1792, 4me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2012.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 145, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2020.
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