Lot 3762
France. Proof Ecu d'Argent au Bandeau, 1740-A (Paris). Dav-1331; KM-47.1; Ciani-2122; Gadoury-322; Duplessy-1680; Droulers-584. 29.51 grams. Louis XV, 1710-1774. Struck on a specially polished flan. Head of a mature Louis left, his long hair tied with a bandeau. Reverse: Crowned oval arms, within olive wreath. Superb strike, as indicative of a specimen issue. The reflective fields almost glassy in appearance, beneath fine old gray toning, redolent of blue and pale green and russet hues. Carefully preserved as a special issue or Essai, the fields exceptionally clean, the strike truly crisp, high points showing only trivial cabinet friction (consider that a coin such as this has come down to us only because it was preserved in aristocratic cabinets). An exceptional piece, very rare as an Essai, and particularly so in this stunning state of preservation. NGC graded Proof 63.
No official proof issues exist from this time. Only an Essai could have been produced with this polished surface. An amazing coin, one of the finest of all French portraits (and a classic reverse as well).
Estimated Value $10,000 - 12,000.
Ex Millennia, Lot 547.
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| Realized $13,225 |
