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1/2 Écu - Louis XV
| Issuer | Monnaie de Paris |
|---|---|
| Year | 1741-1774 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | 2 mm |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | Central device comprises the oval shield of France — bearing three fleurs-de-lis — surmounted by a royal crown of France with elaborate fleurons and arches, the whole flanked symmetrically by two crossed olive branches tied at the base with a ribbon bow. The date appears in the upper field between the branch tips and the crown, with the mint mark letter H (La Rochelle) positioned at the bottom of the field below the wreath. The circular Latin legend runs around the periphery within a toothed border, invoking the biblical benediction. |
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| Additional information |
The half-écu series under Louis XV ran across one of the most fiscally turbulent stretches of Bourbon rule, covering the War of Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' War — the latter of which effectively bankrupted the French crown and triggered the monetary reforms that would eventually follow under Louis XVI. Individual years within this long run vary dramatically in rarity; certain issues from provincial mints were struck in quantities so small that they are considered rare by any standard, while Paris issues from the 1760s are comparatively plentiful.
The Dy royales reference 1681 encompasses multiple mint marks. Collectors working this series seriously treat each mint-year combination as a distinct issue rather than a single type.