Description
Kingdom of France, Louis XIII of the House of Bourbon, King of France 1610-1643 AD, Silver Twelfth Ecu (2.28g, 20mm), 1642 A, Paris mint. Obverse: Laureate and draped bust of King Louis XIII facing to the right, legend surrounds, “LVDOVICVS· XIII· D·G· FR· ET· NAV· REX”. Reverse: Shield of Arms of the Kingdom of France surmounted by the Dauphin’s Crown (similar?), date to top left of crown, ‘point’ above, mintmark “·A·” below, legend surrounds, “SIT· NOMEN· DOMINI BENEDICTVM·”. Gadoury-46. Minor adjustment marks on the obverse and minor mark on reverse, deeply toned each side, a most charming fractional Ecu, good Very Fine.
The obverse Latin legend reads “Lūdovīcus tertium decimum, Deī Grātiā, Franciae et Navarrae rēx”, with an English translation of “Louis the thirteenth, by the Grace of God, King of France and Navarre”. The reverse Latin legend reads “sit nōmen dominī benedictum”, with an English translation of “The Name of the Lord be blessed”.
