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1/2 Gold Ecu with sun - Francis I 5th type
| Issuer | France |
|---|---|
| Year | 1519 |
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| Composition | Gold (.958) |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | A floriated cross with an ornamental quadrilobe at its centre occupies the full field, dividing the reverse into four quarters. The upper two quarters each contain a crowned letter F (for Franciscus), while the lower two quarters each bear a fleur-de-lis. A beaded inner circle encloses the cross design, with the peripheral Latin legend running between the inner and outer rims in Gothic lettering. The composition follows the standard type of French royal gold coinage of Francis I. |
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| Additional information |
Francis I overhauled French royal coinage in 1519 partly to fund his ambitions following the Field of the Cloth of Gold negotiations and his rivalry with Charles V — a contest that would drain the French treasury for decades. The "with sun" designation distinguishes this emission from earlier Francis I écus by the mint mark placement and the solar privy mark, a distinction that matters considerably for attribution given how many subtypes this reign produced.
The .958 fineness held over from late Valois practice, not yet debased to the levels Francis would authorize under later financial pressure.