Double Gold Ecu with sun - Henry IV
| Gold (.958) | 6.751 g | 27 mm |
| Issuer | France |
|---|---|
| King | Henry IV (Henri IV) (1589-1610) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 1589-1590 |
| Value | 2 Gold Ecus |
| Currency | Livre tournois (1204-1795) |
| Composition | Gold (.958) |
| Weight | 6.751 g |
| Diameter | 27 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Orientation | Coin alignment ↑↓ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-04 |
| Numista | N#375573 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 100% |
Reverse
Floriated cross with two H's and two lis in angles.
Script: Latin
Lettering: CHRISTVS • VINCIT • REGNAT • INPER •
Translation: Christ rules, defeats and commands.
Comment
This issue is illegal; the minting of double Ecus has never been authorized by the Paris Currency Court any more than by the Tours Chamber of Accounts which acted as a Currency court for the royalist party. These double Ecus were decried in 1590, and Fidelle, master of the mint, had to reimburse them.
Driven out of Paris on May 13, 1588, following the insurrection of the Catholic League, Henry III took refuge in Tours. From this city, in a letter dated March 23, 1589, he ordered the officers of the Paris Mint to transfer the mint to Compiègne. But the royal wishes were not carried out. Also, on April 26, 1589, he asked Charles of Humières, governor of Compiègne, to have “coins minted in the said city of Compiègne, with the particular mintmark of Paris, which is an A, the first letter of the alphabet” . The mint of Compiègne ceased its activity in April 1595.
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about the Double Gold Ecu with sun - Henry IV 1589-1590 from France is that it was minted during a time of great economic and political change in France. Henry IV, who ruled from 1589 to 1610, was the first French monarch to issue a gold coinage that was widely accepted and used throughout the country. The Double Gold Ecu was one of the most valuable coins of its time, and it played an important role in promoting trade and commerce in France and beyond.
Price
| Date | Mintage | VG | F | VF | XF | AU | UNC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1589 A | 526 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1590 A | 680 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Values in the table are based on evaluations by sales realized on Internet platforms. They serve as an indication only for Double Gold Ecu with sun - Henry IV 1589-1590 coin.
