ObverseImage: Wikimedia Commons · Jerry "Woody" from Edmonton, Canada · CC BY-SA 2.0
Ecu of Louis XIII
France
1610–1643
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Estimated Melt Value
$62.86
Based on Silver spot price ($80.04/oz) · 90.0% purity · 27.14g
Updated 12:49 AM
Collector premium not included
Specifications
| Country | France |
| Years Minted | 1610–1643 |
| Composition | Silver |
| Weight | 27.14 g |
| Diameter | 41 mm |
| Shape | Round |
Design
Obverse
Bust of King Louis XIII facing right, surrounded by a Latin inscription.
Reverse
Crowned shield with three fleurs-de-lis, and additional heraldic elements.
History & Notable Facts
The Ecu of Louis XIII was frequently struck on planchets recycled from melted Spanish reales, a wartime expedient that highlights the era's silver scarcity.
This silver coin, valued at three livres tournois, bore the king's bust on the obverse and the French arms on the reverse. Designs varied slightly by mint, with Paris being the primary source, though others like Bordeaux contributed. Inscriptions included Latin phrases affirming Louis's rule, like "LVDOVICVS XIII REX CHRISTIANISSIMVS."
Exact mintage numbers are murky; most records burned in the 1871 fire at the Hôtel des Monnaies. What survives shows production peaked in the 1630s amid conflicts.
Some collectors note the Ecu's edge often shows file marks from anti-clipping efforts.
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