Gold Ecu - Joan of Albret

Reverse

Crowned arms flanked by two crowned I's.

Script: Latin

Lettering: G DEI SVM ID QVOD SVM 1564

Translation: By the grace of god, I am what I am.

Comment

This coin was minted at the monetary workshop in Pau, below the castle, in a tower known as the Moulin. The workshop had been equipped with a hydraulic system under the reign of Henri d'Albret, Jeanne's father, enabling production to be carried out with great regularity thanks to the pendulum coinage.

This is an automatic translation. The original text is:

Cette monnaie a été frappée à l'atelier monétaire installé à Pau, en contrebas du château, dans une tour dite du Moulin. L'atelier avait été équipé d'un système hydraulique sous le règne d'Henri d'Albret, père de Jeanne, permettant une production d'une belle régularité grâce à la frappe au balancier.

Interesting fact

One interesting fact about the Gold Ecu - Joan of Albret 1564 from Lordship of Béarn (French States) is that it was minted during a time of great turmoil in France. The coin was issued in 1564, during the reign of Charles IX, who was the king of France at the time. However, the coin was minted in the Lordship of Béarn, which was a region in southwestern France that was controlled by the House of Albret, a powerful noble family. This coin is a rare example of a coin that was issued during a time of political instability and conflict in France, and it is a testament to the enduring legacy of the Albret family in the region.

• medieval
• early modern