$6,599.00 USD
Struck under King Philippe VI, the first monarch of the Valois dynasty, the Écu d'Or à la Chaise marked a major development in French medieval coinage. Introduced during the early phases of the Hundred Years’ War, this gold issue asserted both the strength of royal authority and the theological underpinnings of monarchy. The design — featuring the king enthroned — was intended to reinforce the image of the sovereign as both a political and spiritual figurehead of France.
Obverse: Depicts King Philippe VI seated on a Gothic throne, facing forward, holding a scepter in the right hand and a globus cruciger in the left. The Latin inscription around reads: “PHILIPPVS DEI GRA FRANCORVM REX” (Philippe, by the Grace of God, King of the Franks), affirming divine legitimacy.
Reverse: Features a finely engraved cross fleury within a quadrilobe, with fleurs-de-lis in the spandrels, symbolizing the unity of church and state. The outer legend reads: “+ XP'C VINCIT XP'C REGNAT XP'C IMPERAT” (Christ conquers, Christ reigns, Christ commands), reinforcing the idea of divinely sanctioned royal power.
Graded NGC MS63, this coin exhibits sharp strike fidelity with full detail across the throne and facial features, and exceptional luster rarely seen on hammered medieval gold. It retains much of its original surface brilliance, with only light evidence of handling. Among surviving examples, MS63 is a notably high grade, placing it within the top tier of preserved specimens of this type.
