Gold Ecu - Julius II George of Amboise Legate

Comtat Venaissin was a papal enclave in southern France — surrounded by French territory but answering to Rome — and its coinage reflects that peculiar dual authority. During the years this écu was struck, Julius II appointed Georges d'Amboise as his legate to France, a man who simultaneously served as chief minister to Louis XII and Cardinal Archbishop of Rouen. The combination of French royal service and papal delegation made d'Amboise arguably the most powerful ecclesiastic in Europe for a brief period, and he pursued the papacy itself twice, unsuccessfully, at the conclaves of 1503.

The Munt#77-79 range indicates at least three die varieties were documented for this type.