Royal France, Francis I. Scarce Gold Ecu “with Sun” Coin. Mint Place: Lyon Mint Period: 1515-1545 References: Friedberg 347, Duplessy 775.Denomination: EcuDiameter: 36mm Weight: 3.29gm Material: Gold! Obverse: Sun above crowned shield with french royal arms (three lis). Legend: + FRANCISCVS: DEI. GRA. FRANCORVM. REX (privy mark: clover) Reverse: Ornate cross with fleur de lis terminals and rosette center. Two lis and two large letters F (for Francois) in fields. + XPS VINCIT. XPS: REGNAT. XPS: IMPERAT (privy mark: clover) Francis I (French: François Ier; 12 September 1494 – 31 March 1547), was king of France from 1515 until his death. Francis I is considered to be France’s first Renaissance monarch. His reign saw France make immense cultural advances. He was a c ontemporary of Suleiman the Magnificent of the Ottoman Empire, with whom he was allied in a Franco-Ottoman alliance, as well as of Henry VIII of England and of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, his great rivals. Francis' legacy is generally considered a mixed one. He achieved great cultural feats, but they came at the expense of France’s economic well-being. The persecution of the Protestants was to lead France into decades of civil war, which did not end until 1598 with the Edict of Nantes.