  The progenitor systems of the class of "Ca-rich transients" is a key open
issue in time domain astrophysics. These intriguing objects exhibit unusually
strong calcium line emissions months after explosion, fall within an
intermediate luminosity range, are often found at large projected distances
from their host galaxies, and may play a vital role in enriching galaxies and
the intergalactic medium. Here we present multi-wavelength observations of
iPTF15eqv in NGC 3430, which exhibits a unique combination of properties that
bridge those observed in Ca-rich transients and Type Ib/c supernovae. iPTF15eqv
has among the highest [Ca II]/[O I] emission line ratios observed to date, yet
is more luminous and decays more slowly than other Ca-rich transients. Optical
and near-infrared photometry and spectroscopy reveal signatures consistent with
the supernova explosion of a < 10 solar mass star that was stripped of its
H-rich envelope via binary interaction. Distinct chemical abundances and ejecta
kinematics suggest that the core collapse occurred through electron capture
processes. Deep limits on possible radio emission made with the Jansky Very
Large Array imply a clean environment ($n <$ 0.1 cm$^{-3}$) within a radius of
$\sim 10^{17}$ cm. Chandra X-ray Observatory observations rule out alternative
scenarios involving tidal disruption of a white dwarf by a black hole, for
masses > 100 solar masses). Our results challenge the notion that
spectroscopically classified Ca-rich transients only originate from white dwarf
progenitor systems, complicate the view that they are all associated with large
ejection velocities, and indicate that their chemical abundances may vary
widely between events.
