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 Replies: 12 / Views: 2,228 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2703 Posts |
Last night when I saw this half ecu of King Louis XIV from France, my mouse slipped  and I ended up ordering it.   Here's a painting of Louis XIV in 1661 by Charles le Brun:  |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1106 Posts |
Looks like a terrific coin  |
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Moderator
Australia
16817 Posts |
Very nice - the Sun King himself, with a little sun-face privy mark hovering over his head. Very effective. Looks like it's been overstruck on something, too - there's some kind of rectangular pattern running diagonally across the shield. I'm wondering if it might have been a Spanish 4 reales or Flanders ½ patagon in a prior life - France was winning a war against Spain at the time. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
Egypt
3470 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2254 Posts |
Thanks for adding the portrait. I like the way they modeled the nose and lips to resemble the person exactly...
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Valued Member
France
285 Posts |
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
240 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1106 Posts |
Though the 1/2 ecu was not imported into French N. America, it did circulate in considerable numbers. After the fall of New France, the ecu and half ecu were known as French Crowns and Half Crowns until they were demonetized in 1842.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2703 Posts |
Thanks everyone for the great comments!! I have started collecting the ecus and 1/2 ecus of the 1600s and 1700s by date and mint-mark, which will probably keep me busy for the next 50 years. This "au buste juvenile" type and the the subsequent "à la cravate" type are two of my favorites. When it arrives, I will check it closely to see if I can identify an undertype.
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Valued Member
United States
235 Posts |
Beautiful coin and lucky to come across it just at the right time. Your collection goal is very ambitious, as the mintmark and privy mark system of coinage of the ancien regime is very complicated.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5362 Posts |
Sap - The rectangular grid are actually adjustment marks. The Ecu and 1/2 Ecu's are noted for deep adjustment marks. It is one of the best I have ever seen. Beautiful coin.
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Moderator
Australia
16817 Posts |
quote:
swamperbob said:
The rectangular grid are actually adjustment marks. The Ecu and 1/2 Ecu's are noted for deep adjustment marks.
Oh.  Still a very neat coin.  Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Replies: 12 / Views: 2,228 |
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Posted 06/09/2007 04:25 am
