World Silver & Bronze (China - L)

Lot 2149    SESSION 8 (2.30PM WEDNESDAY 3RD APRIL)    World Silver & Bronze (China - L)

Estimate $500
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $650

FRANCE, Louis XIV (1643 - 1715), silver ecu, 1652A, (27.23 g), Paris mint, obv. LVD. XIIII. D.G. FR.ET. NA V.REX, laureate bust to right, rev. .SIT. NOMEN. DOMINI. BENEDICTVM. 1652, crowned arms of three lis, rose above crown, A at base, (D.3799, KM.155.1). Light golden tone, nearly extremely fine, scarce.

Ex Noble Numismatics Sale 103, lot 2256. Previously the Alan Jordan Collection.

The ecu with long curl, (falling to the shoulder), was struck from 1646 to 1659. The predecessors of this coin, differing slightly in design, were struck for Louis XIII from 1641 and Louis XIV from 1643. These were the first French silver crowns. The silver ecu owed its origin to the sweeping reforms of monetary policy and mint practice instituted late in the reign of Louis XIII. By a series of decrees issued in the latter part of 1641, the king created a new silver standard, a coin valued at 60 sols weighing 27.44 grams, 917/1000 fine, to be struck on the presses of the Medal Mint at the Louvre.