France 1725-9 ecu

Jean Elsen sale 145, lot 1180

This specimen was lot 1180 in Jean Elsen sale 145 (Brussels, September 2020), where it sold for €330 (about US$470 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"FRANCE, Royaume, Louis XV (1715-1774), AR écu aux huit L, 17259, Rennes. D/ B. jeune, l., dr. et cuir. à d. R/ Croix formée de quatre lis couronnés, cantonnée de huit L. Rare Traces d'ajustage et de corrosion. Très Beau à Superbe. Provient de notre vente 68, 14 décembre 2001, 1415. (kingdom of France, Louis XV, 1715-74, silver écu of the eight "L's" of 1725, Rennes mint. Obverse: laureate, draped and armored young bust to left; reverse: cross formed of four crowned lilies, cantonned with eight "L's". Rare, traces of adjustment marks and corrosion. Very Fine - Extremely Fine.)"

Droulers notes the type as rather scarce as most were melted in the great reform of 1726. A number were recovered from the wreck of Le Chameau but most were corroded. This type is the lowest weight écu struck during the reign of Louis XV.

Recorded mintage: 2,430,523.

Specification: 23.59 g, .917 fine silver, .695 troy oz ASW, 38-39 mm diameter, edge lettered DOMINE SALVUM FAC REGEM, designed by Norbert Roëttiers, this specimen 23,21 g.

Catalog reference: Dav-1329, Dr/4 no. 818, Dr/2 no. 574, KM 472, Dupl-1670; Gad-320.

Source:

• 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.
• Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Royales Françaises, 1610-1792, 4me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2012.
• Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
• Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1700-1800, 2nd Ed. London: Spink & Son, 1964.
• ^[1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 145, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2020.

Link to:

• 1725-AA seizième d'écu aux 8 L
• 1725-C 1/16 écu aux 8 L
• 1725-A huitième d'écu aux 8 L
• 1725-R 1/8 écu aux 8 L
• 1725-AA quart d'écu aux 8 L
• 1725-X quart d'écu aux 8 L
• 1725-A demi-écu aux 8 L
• 1725-AA demi-écu aux 8 L
• 1725-V demi-écu aux 8 L
• 1725-A écu aux 8 L
• 1725-AA écu aux huit L
• 1725-C écu aux 8 L
• 1725-Q écu aux huit L
• 1725-R écu aux 8 L
• 1725-W écu aux 8 L
• 1725-X écu aux 8 L
• 1725-& écu aux huit L
• 1725-A louis d'or Mirliton grandes palmes
• 1725-D louis d'or Mirliton grandes palmes
• Coins and currency dated 1725
• return to French Royal coinage (to 1793)