Gold Ecu with sun - Henry III 5th type

Henry III was assassinated on August 1, 1589 — stabbed by the Dominican friar Jacques Clément — making this final-type écu among the last coins struck under his authority. The 5th type, distinguished from its predecessors by subtle modifications to the sun mark positioning, was introduced late in a reign already collapsing under the weight of the Wars of Religion and the king's childless succession crisis. Production at some mints effectively ceased before the year was out as royal control over French territory fragmented under League opposition.

The absence of a Dy royales reference number is telling — Duplessy left this variety unassigned, a gap that continues to complicate auction attribution.