Regal Hand-Hammered Coins… the Royal Gold Coins of Early France in an Heirloom Pendant

Please Note: This is an authentic medieval French coin, and you will receive the exact pendant in the photographs and description.

Size Including the Setting (Bezel): 1 1/4" Across, 1 5/8" Tall - the size of a U.S. Half Dollar

Knights on horseback… maidens in flowing robes… tapestries adorning the walls of fairy-tale castles – it’s easy to see why medieval Europe has captured our imagination from childhood. It is from this world – a world filled with daring feats of bravery, fascinating political intrigue, and stunning artistic developments – that our Coins of Medieval France collection come.

Once a group of medieval Frank states, at the time these coins were minted, France as we know it was being formed and solidified under a united kingdom, and the Gold Royal Ecu d’or and Silver Guenar were becoming the accepted standard in the united France. From the earliest days of a united France, to the birth of the Renaissance, these coins were minted at a place and time which would play a large part in creating the world we live in today.

The coins of late medieval France are a stunning combination of classical imagery and art combined with the intricate medieval letter-forms that are at once incredibly complex and easily read… once you train your eye to them!

Christ Overcomes, Christ Reigns, Christ Commands: Understanding the Imagery and Legends of the French Royal Coins of Christ

The Frankish states, and united France, were Christian kingdoms. Like their neighbors, the French chose to celebrate and honor their faith on their coins – the designs and words on these coins were meant to serve as daily reminders of the source of true wealth.

The Royal Ecu d’or au Soleil

Yes, that’s this coin’s actual name. It translates to: The Royal Gold Ecu of the Sun. Ecu is the denomination, like a dollar. Royal d’or signifies that this coin is an official gold coin of France. 

The Cross Side:

A cross with fleur de lis at the terminals is called a Cross Fleuree. While we are used to associating the fleur de lis with France, this expression of the famous symbol is meant to remind viewers of the Godhead. The words around the cross are in Latin, and say: XPS : VINCIT : XPS : REGNAT : XPS : IPERAT Literally: Christ Overcomes, Christ Reigns, Christ Commands.

The Coat of Arms Side:

The Coat of Arms of France features the crowed fleur de lis. The legend on this side of the coin reads: KAROLVS : DEI : GRA : FRANCORVM : REX - Charles, by the grace of God, King of the Franks.

Your Royal French Medieval Hand-Hammered Coin Pendant:

• Date: 1748 - 1498
• Denomination: Ecu d'or au Soleil
• Ruler: Charles VIII of France (1483 - 1498)
• Coin Metal: 22K Gold
• Coin Weight: 3.35 grams
• Bezel Metal: 18K Gold
• Articulating Bail Interior Diameter: Will accommodate chain or leather necklace up to 6.2 mm
• Reverse: The Cross Fleuree and the Legend: XPS : VINCIT : XPS : REGNAT : XPS : IPERAT -  Christ Overcomes, Christ Reigns, Christ Commands 
• Obverse: KAROLVS : DEI : GRA : FRANCORVM : REX - Charles, by the grace of God, King of the Franks
• Size Including the Setting (Bezel): 1 1/4" Across, 1 5/8" Tall - the size of a U.S. Half Dollar

April's Notes: Truly striking and  stunning quality for its age. Coins of this quality are extraordinarily difficult to acquire - they represent just a small fraction of top-grade Ecus. This is why we set gold coins of this quality in our exclusive, luxury-weight 18K Gold settings.

This Ecu is elegant in its simplicity of design. The Cross Fleuree pops from the smooth, glowing gold field. You can see why these coins were famed for their beauty then as now. You can even see the glowing sun (in the red circle).

A wonderful size and perfect for daily wear.

Each one of these precious survivors is a work of art in its own right. Long lost, each has been rediscovered and has emerged from our Conservation Lab where it has been stabilized and conserved for generations to cherish.

Au Soleil: With the Sun

The radiant sun that gives this coin its name (au soleil, “with the sun”) is one of the most evocative symbols in late medieval and Renaissance coinage. Long before Louis XIV adopted the sun as a royal emblem, the sun served as a universal symbol of divine favor, constancy, and sovereign authority. On this écu, the sun radiates above the shield as a sign of illuminattion and the sustaining power of God. When this coin was struck, the sun suggested cosmic order: the steady rhythm of time, the blessing of harvest, and the unbroken continuity of legitimate rule. Toady, this tiny golden sun is a Renaissance meditation on light and continuity — a reminder that this small piece of history once moved through a world where earthly stewardship, natural order, and divine providence were understood as intimately connected.

How Your Medieval French Coin Came to Be
To understand where these beautiful French coins came from, you have to go back a few hundred years… to someone you’ve heard of: Charlemagne (768-814)! Also called Charles the Great, and sometimes the “Father of Europe,” Charlemagne was King of the Franks, which region became known as the Carolingian Empire. In just a few short years, he united most of Western Europe for the first time since the Roman Empire, and laid the foundations for modern France and Germany. It was Charlemagne, together with an English counterpart, who created the medieval hand-hammered silver penny. The standard coin of what we call the “Dark Ages” the silver penny became a widespread currency, but it was often “debased” (the practice of making the coins with less silver than usual) and of unreliable value. And then, as centuries passed, the world began to change – by the 1300s the Renaissance and the Age of Exploration were beginning to dawn, trade was expanding, and Europe needed larger coins of reliable purity. New sources of silver and gold were discovered, and the creation of hand-hammered currency blossomed into the large, exquisite coins of late medieval France you see pictured here.

 Your Medieval French Coin Pendant Comes Complete with:

1. Our 100% Authentic Lifetime Guarantee
2. A 6-Page, Full Color, Customized Photo Certificate of Authenticity Researched and Written by April Knecht and Robert Lewis Knecht
3. Treasure Hunters Gazette Booklet
4. A Mini Museum Display for when you are not wearing your treasure
5. A Treasure Jewelry Care Card