France 1721-R ecu

Heritage sale 3040, lot 29671

photo courtesy Heritage Auction Galleries

The specimen shown is an écu au grand écusson de France of the Orléans mint, struck while Louis XV was a minor. Droulers^[1] notes the type as rather scarce but more available than the succeeding écu aux 8 L of 1724-25. The type was issued 1720-24. This specimen was lot 29671 in Heritage sale 3040 (Chicago, April 2015), where it sold for $3,172.50. The catalog description^[2] noted, "Louis XV Ecu 1721-R MS62 NGC, Orleans mint. A broad example of this type featuring the draped, laureate young bust of Louis XV and the crowned arms of France. Exquisitely toned in steel-gray patination with darker graphite and russet tones dripping from the devices. Struck over an earlier type with a considerable amount of previous strike visible on both the obverse and reverse. Scarce in a mint state designation, and highly appealing as such."

Recorded mintage: 158,618; all "flans reformées".

Specification: 24.47 g, 0.917 fine silver, .722 troy oz ASW, 38 mm diameter, edge lettered DOMINE SALVUM FAC REGEM, designed by Norbert Roëttiers.

Catalog reference: Dr/4 № 817, Dr/2 № 566, KM 459.7, Dav-1328, Gad-319.

Source:

^[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.
Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1700-1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Royales Françaises, 1610-1792, 5me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2018.
Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
^[2]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and David Michaels, Heritage Signature Auction 3040, featuring the Santa Maria, the Alan Dean and the Valley View Life Collections, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2015.

Link to:

France 1721-R ecu

Navigation menu

Search