France 1696-G 2 louis d'or
This specimen was lot 1061 in Goldberg's NY International sale 58 (New York, January 2023), where it sold for $5,520. The catalog description[1] noted, "France. Louis XIV (1643-1715). Gold Double Louis d'or aux 4 L, 1696-G. Poitiers mint. Old laureate head right. Rev. Four crowned fleurs de lis in angles of crossed insignia. The only example graded at PCGS. In PCGS holder graded AU 55." This type is usually found struck over older coins, a process involving all French silver and gold coinage during 1690-1709. These "reformations" were the result of financial manipulations too tedious to discuss here. The double louis d'or à l'écu was succeeded by the double louis d'or aux 4 L struck 1693-1700. Both these types are the first somewhat common gold coins since the 1640's but all are expensive relative to the silver écus. Droulers[2] lists but does not price this issue. The Poitiers mint struck this type 1693-98, all in tiny quantities.
Recorded mintage: 640, all fn[2].
Specification: 13.5 g, 0.917 fine gold, reeded edge, 28-30 mm diameter, designed by Joseph Roëttiers.
Catalog reference: Dr/4 № 399, Dupl-1439A, Fr-432; Gad-260; KM 303.9.
- [2]Droulers, Frédéric, Répertoire General des Monnaies de Louis XIII à Louis XVI (1610-1792), 4e édition. Paris: AFPN, 2009.
- Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Royales Françaises, 1610-1792, 5me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2018.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- [1]Goldberg, Ira, Stephen Harvey and Vera Kan, Goldberg NY International 2023 Sale, Los Angeles: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, 2022.
Links to:
- 1695-BB double louis d'or aux quatre L
- 1695-M double louis d'or aux quatre L
- 1696-D quart d'écu aux palmes
- 1696-C demi-écu aux palmes
- 1696-H demi-écu aux palmes
- 1696-X demi-écu aux palmes
- 1696-W demi-écu carambole
- 1696-P écu aux palmes
- 1696-X écu aux palmes
- 1696-E demi-louis d'or aux quatre L
- 1696-AA louis d'or aux quatre L
- 1696-K louis d'or aux quatre L
- 1696-N louis d'or aux quatre L
- 1696-T louis d'or aux 4 L
- 1696-A double louis d'or aux quatre L
- 1696-BB double louis d'or aux quatre L
- Coins and currency dated 1696
- return to French royal coinage (to 1793)