France (1445) 1/2 ecu d'or Fr-308

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Sincona sale 46, lot 307
This specimen was lot 307 in Sincona sale 46 (Zurich, May 2018), where it sold for 600 CHF (about US$720 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Kingdom, Charles VII. 1422-1461. 1/2 Ecu dor à la couronne o. J. (2. Emission, 12.8.1445), Toulouse. Selten. Sehr schön. Doppelschlag. (kingdom of France, Charles VII, 1422-61, undated half écu of the crown, second emission of August 1445, Toulouse mint. Rare, Very fine, Double struck.)"
This coin was issued before the modern system of mintmarks was introduced by Francis I in 1540. Prior to that date, mints used various secret marks to identify and date their product. This otherwise undated and unmintmarked coin is thereby noted as being produced by the Toulouse mint (later mintmark "M") as part of the second emission of August 1445. Duplessy notes this coin had a face value of 12 sols and 6 deniers tournois at the time of issue. This value was raised to 13 sols and 9 deniers tournois by the third emission of January 1447.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 1.74 g, .989 fine gold, this specimen 1.73 g.

Catalog reference: Duplessy 513 A. Fr-308.


  • Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome I, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.

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