Rare Amiens Écu on a Fresh Flan
FRANCE, Royal. Louis XIV le Roi Soleil (the Sun King). 1643–1715. AR Écu aux huit L (40mm, 27.20 g, 6h). Amiens mint;
différent: sun. Dated
1690 X. Draped bust right; pellet below D in LVD / Crowned cruciform opposed Ls; lis in quarters; X at center. Sobin 9; VG 216; Duplessy 1514; Ciani 1889; KM 275.15. Richly toned. In NGC encapsulation 6906700-012, graded AU 53. A very rare variety struck on a fresh flan, rather than the usual overstrike.
Ex Alexander Christopher Collection.
This wonderful écu is struck on a fresh planchet, rather than being overstruck on an earlier type, as is the case with the vast majority of this issue. In addition, the reverse lacks any différent, depicting neither the heart différent of Michel Mollard nor the trefoil of Claude Hardy. Sobin, in the sale of his collection, notes that the few known 1690 “new planchet” écus of Ameins occur with the trefoil on the reverse and a secret mark: a small pellet below the D in LVD, which is present on this coin.
