FRANCE. Ecu dOr, ND. Lyon Mint. Louis XII (1498-1515). PCGS MS-64 Gold Shield.Fr-325; Dupl-655; Ciani-909. 3.47 grams. <em>Ecu dOr au porc-epic </em>type. Exceptionally preserved for this beloved porcupine-themed issue, with a bold strike that renders the legends complete, satiny luster that illuminates the fields and surfaces that are free from all forms of hard contact. <strong>VERY RARE </strong>in this quality, this being the single finest graded at PCGS to date with a search of archived auction results yielding only one example that seems remotely comparable, that piece having been offered by Maison Palombo in December of 2013, where it was cataloged as "pratiquement FDC" and sold for 4,500 CHF hammer (approximate $5,000 USD hammer at the time). All considered, a seldom-available opportunity for the type enthusiast or French specialist to acquire a popular type in a condition that absolutely qualifies as elite.
