France 1/48, 1/24, 1/16, 1/12, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, and 1 Ecu (Louis XIV) 1642 to 1689

These are silver coins of King (Rex) Louis XIV (Lvd XIIII) of France and Navarre, an area on the border of France and Spain (Fr et Nav). The inscription 'sit nomen domini benedictvm' means 'May the name of the Lord be blessed.'

Louis reigned from 1642 to 1715. Most of the coins between 1642 and 1689 have his portrait on the front and a crowned coat-of-arms with three fleurs-de-lis on the back. This page applies to silver coins with these patterns. There are also gold coins with similar inscriptions and devices, but they are worth much more than the silver coins outlined here.

Just about all these coins you find today are heavily worn and corroded, scratched, cleaned, or damaged in some way. In the listings below, you can see the dramatic increase in price as condition improves. If you have a nice looking example with no damage and not too much wear, seek a knowledgeable collector or dealer for an in-person appraisal. The overall looks and appearance of the coin means a lot to its ultimate value, and some coins carry small mint marks (letters and symbols) which add to value.

1/48 ECU (12 mm diameter)
worn: $80 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $350
well preserved: $900

1/24 ECU (14 mm diameter)
worn: $200 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $750
well preserved: $2000

1/16 ECU (17 mm diameter)
worn: $100 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $250
well preserved: $500
1/16 ecus with palm trees on the crown side are worth three times these values

1/12 ECU (20 mm diameter)
worn: $25 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $80
well preserved: $200
some 1/12 ecus between 1650 and 1661 with F, G, and V mint marks are worth four times these values
a 1683A 1/12 ecu with an armored bust of Louise XIV catalogs for $1200 in average circulated condition

1/8 ECU (24 mm diameter)
worn: $20 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $180
well preserved: $360

1/4 ECU (27 mm diameter)
worn: $50 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $280
well preserved: $500
some 1/4 ecus dated between 1674 and 1683 with A mint marks are worth four times these values

1/2 ECU (33 mm diameter)
worn: $60 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $250
well preserved: $400
some 1/2 ecus dated between 1652 and 1662 carry special marks that make them worth five times these values
some 1/2 ecus dated between 1680 and 1686 show a shield of Bearn, which makes them much more valuable

ECU (40 mm diameter)
worn: $120 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $350
well preserved: $800
some ecus show a shield of Bearn, which makes them much more valuable

Damaged coins are worth much less than the values listed above. Please visit our Important Terminology page found at the top left in order to properly interpret these catalog values.
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