Gold Ecu - Catherine of Navarre

Catherine of Navarre inherited Béarn and Navarre in 1483 following the death of her brother Francis Phoebus, who died at fifteen under circumstances considered suspicious even at the time. She was twelve years old. The right to strike gold coinage in Béarn derived from the lordship's ancient privileges, technically independent of the French crown — a jurisdictional anomaly that survived well into the early modern period.

The issue dates place this ecu within the regency years before Catherine reached majority, meaning the coinage was authorized and administered on her behalf.