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Gold Ecu with porcupine - Louis XII LVDOVICVS FRANCORVM DEI GRA REX
| Issuer | France |
|---|---|
| Year | 1498-1515 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Technique | Hammered |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Mint | Lyon, France (413-1858) |
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| Additional information |
Louis XII adopted the porcupine as his personal badge — inherited from the Orleans duchy — and had it struck onto the coinage almost immediately after taking the throne in 1498. The device carried a deliberate political message: the porcupine of Orleans was believed capable of shooting its quills, making it both defensive and offensive, a posture Louis embraced as he pursued his Italian campaigns. These écus circulated through a reign defined by the Wars of Italy, funding campaigns into Milan and Naples that ultimately overextended French resources.
The LP gap in the references is notable. Ciani 910 remains the most frequently cited anchor for this type.