Louis XII (1498-1515). Gold Ecu d'or au porc-épic, undated. Crowned arms flanked by two porcupines. Rev. Floriated cross, in two angles an L, in two angles a porcupine (Fr 325; Ciani 909). In NGC holder graded MS 61. Sharply struck with considerable luster. Value $1,500 - UP
The écu d'or au porc-épic ("gold shield with porcupine") was struck by Louis XII in 1507-1508. The porcupine appears to have become a personal badge of the king due to his descent from the House of Valois-Orléans. In 1394, Louis I, the Duke of Orléans instituted the chivalric Ordre du Porc-Épic ("Order of the Porcupine") as a means of increasing the loyalty of his noblemen. However, at the outset of his reign in 1498, Louis XII had actually repressed the order instead preferring to be grand master of the Ordre de Saint-Michel ("Order of Saint Michael") founded by Louis XI. Presumably, over the course of a century the porcupine of the Ordre du Porc-Épic had become so closely connected with the Orléans branch of the royal family that it could remain an emblem of Louis XII even after the dissolution of the order.