Am I wrong or does it look like this is an error coin on the obverse and reverse of this coin I have?
No, it's not an error, these coins were re-struck on older versions. This is mine, shows even more "errors". There is info on it somewhere, but I am on a phone and it's on my desktop, hopefully someone else can post the info. Louis XIV (1638 - 1715 A.D.) AR Ecu O: LVD•XIIII•D•G (soleil) FR•ET•NAV•REX, Bust with square neckline. R: Lettering: SIT•NOMEN•DOMINI• E BENEDICTVM 1693 M Crowned round arms of France within sprays. Toulouse - flan réformé 38mm 27.45g Dy# 1520
Your coin has a crescent after the date which is the sign of die reformation. The OP version of early 1700's should have a star after IMP on the reverse to show reformation, but is not seen in those images.
How do you know it's not unusual? Are you assuming just because it's not an "error" that it's not? I think any coin of this time frame is worth some consideration... There are many different types of these Ecu's and Mat's is entirely different than yours, which appears to be GAD224 (1704-1709). Thanks for sharing!
Yes, originally I did think it might be an error coin, which would have made it more unusual than it typically is. That is all I meant by my statement. I treasure my coin but still have much to learn.
Yes, the OP coin was struck over an earlier Louis XIV Écu, called reformation by collectors. This was a wide spread practice by the mints in the 1690s and later, a quick way to revalue coins without going through the process of melting, manufacturing flans and minting new coins. With continuous wars involving France, and the economic impact, shortcuts were used to address the chronic inflationary impacts. Here's a link to a brief synopsis of the reformation coinage. https://www.moneymuseum.com/en/coins?&id=842 And, here is one of my Louis XIV coins, a pre-reformation coin of 1652. France, Louis XIV, Écu, 1652 A (Paris). Child bust. Davenport 3799 27.18 grams
Your coin is magnificent. Thank you for the link...I wish it had a picture of my coin. Great information, which I really appreciate and enjoy reading.
