1351, Royal France, John II "the Good". Scarce Gold Ecu Coin. VF-
Mint Year: 1351
References: Friedberg 276, Duplessy 289. R!
Denomination: Gold Ecu "with Chair" (Écu d'or à la Chaise)
Condition: Danaged (heavy creasing damage, but still stable), light rim hits and damages, otherwise about VF!
Diameter: 28.5mm
Material: Gold!
Weight: 4.36gm
Obverse: Throned figure of the King, holding long sword in right hand. Gothic columns in background, shield with royal arms to right. All within polylobe.
Legend: + IOHANNES: DEI - ..GRA.. - FRANCORVM: REX
Reverse: Ornate cross fleurée with central four petalled flower, bars end intrefoils. Dots and three-leafed rosettes in outer fields.
Legend: + XPC: VINCIT: XPC: REGNAT: XPC: IMPERAT
Authenticity uncodntionally guaranteed.
John II (16 April 1319 – 8 April 1364), or Jean II, also called John the Good (French: Jean le Bon), was a monarch of the House of Valois who ruled as King of France from 1350 until his death.
When John II came to power, France was facing several disasters: the Black Death, which caused the death of nearly half of its population, free companies of routiers who plundered the country, and English aggression that resulted in disastrous military losses, including the Battle of Poitiers of 1356, in which John was captured.
While John was a prisoner in London, his son Charles became regent and faced several rebellions, which he overcame. To liberate his father, he concluded the Treaty of Brétigny (1360), by which France lost many territories and paid an enormous ransom.
In an exchange of hostages, including his son Louis, John was released from captivity to raise funds for his ransom. Upon his return in France, he created the franc to stabilize the currency and tried to get rid of the free companies by sending them to a crusade, but Pope Innocent VI died shortly before their meeting in Avignon. When John was informed that Louis had escaped from captivity, he voluntarily returned to England, where he died in 1364. He was succeeded by his son Charles V.
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