France 1705-W 2 louis d'or

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from Heritage sale 3097, lot 30182
H3097-30182r.jpg

This specimen was lot 30182 in Heritage sale 3097 (New York, January 2022), where it sold for $5,520. The catalog description[1] noted,

"France: Louis XIV gold 2 Louis d'Or 1705-W AU55 NGC, Lille mint. Overstruck on a 1702 2 Louis d'Or of the same monarch. An intriguing entry in the Louis d'Or series from the "Sun King" himself, distinguished by the long-haired portrait and reverse design, a rare combination which so few from this prolific series display. A pale-gold patina populates the devices and yields a gentle reflectivity that finds itself lightly obscured by more prominent evidence of the 1702-dated host coin, offering commendable visual appeal for the grade designation - a consequence of balanced circulation wear that leaves a uniform expression of struck detail, embellished by traces of residual mint luster. An unpublished survivor whose Parisian types of single Louis d'Or are scarce and only witnessed at auction every few years. A singular opportunity to acquire this seemingly unique double for any type or variety collector of the French series. From the Long Island Collection."

The double louis d'or aux insignes was struck 1704-09 almost exclusively on "reformed" blanks (older coins). A considerable number were made at numerous mints yet the type is quite rare; this is the first one posted on this site. The long haired bust shown here was used only at Paris 1705-07; the other mints used a short haired bust by Joseph Roettiers. They were probably melted to make the double louis d'or au soleil, also very scarce.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 13.50 g, 0.917 fine gold, 28-30 mm diameter.

Catalog reference: Dr/4 № 401, Dr/2 № 272, Fr-441, KM-Unl., cf. Gad-263 (mintmark unlisted), Dupl-1445B (same), L4L-318 (same).

Source:

  • 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.
  • Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Royales Françaises, 1610-1792, 5me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2018.
  • 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.
  • Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
  • [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, NYINC World Coins Platinum Night Auction 3097, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2021.

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