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1/2 Ecu of Flanders with palm branches - Louis XIV
| Issuer | Monnaie de Lille |
|---|---|
| Year | 1693-1699 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Obverse description | Right-facing armored bust of Louis XIV in antique military style, with flowing drapery over the cuirass. The effigy is rendered in high relief in the baroque manner associated with the Roëttiers workshop. The Latin legend commences at approximately the 7 o'clock position and reads LVD.XIIII.D.G FR.ET.NAV.REX., abbreviating the royal titles of King of France and Navarre by the grace of God. |
|---|---|
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| Obverse lettering | LVD.XIIII.D.G FR.ET.NAV.REX. |
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| Additional information |
The "écu aux palmes" type was introduced in 1693 as part of Louis XIV's sweeping monetary reform aimed at replenishing royal coffers drained by the Nine Years' War against the Grand Alliance. The reform required existing silver coinage to be reminted to new standards, generating seigniorage profit for the crown with each recoining cycle — a fiscal mechanism Louis deployed repeatedly throughout his reign.
Lille had only recently become a French mint. The city fell to French forces in 1667 and the "L" couronnée mintmark was established shortly after, making Lille issues from this period among the earlier products of a newly absorbed Flemish monetary infrastructure.