1778–1790 France Ecu Silver XF

Coins Of A Beheaded King That Were Used By American Colonists Centuries Ago

King Louis XVI of France was famously beheaded during the French Revolution, several months before his wife, Marie Antoinette—she of “Let them eat cake” fame—traveled down the same path. And while deposed rulers often have coinage bearing their likeness rounded up and destroyed by the next in line, these Ecu coins have somehow managed to survive for more than 230 years! What’s more, these very coins were granted legal-tender status by the Second Continental Congress that included the likes of Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Hancock, and John Jay, meaning they lined the pockets of our earliest patriots and colonists!

How The American Revolution Caused Louis XVI To Lose His Head

Each France Ecu coin comes struck in highly pure 91.7% Extremely Fine silver and bears the likeness of King Louis on the obverse, and the French Coat of Arms on the reverse. The king of France from 1774 to 1792, Louis XVI and his government actively supported the American colonists in their bid for independence from Great Britain during the Revolutionary War culminating in the 1783 Treaty of Paris in which Great Britain recognized the United States of America as an independent nation. The debt and financial crisis that plagued France following the American Revolution contributed to a violently unpopular view of the government, the aristocracy, and the monarchy. Louis was arrested by members of the new revolutionary government in 1792 and was tried, convicted, and sent to the guillotine on January 21, 1793, where he bravely met his end at the age of 38.

A French Coin Dripping With American History

A few years back, we acquired a small hoard of these silver Ecu coins from a private collector who spent more than two decades of his life hunting them down. And now you can secure this coin struck between 1778 and 1790 graded in nice, Extremely Fine (XF) condition. This incredible coin is dripping with history (and perhaps the blood of Louis XVI…?!). Limited quantities are available, so don’t wait—act now to add this French coin that has an American Connection to your collection today!