France 1731-BB 1/2 louis d'or

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Jean Elsen sale 141, lot 1433

This specimen was lot 1433 in Jean Elsen sale 141 (Brussels, June 2019), where it sold for €550 (about US$729 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,

"FRANCE, Royaume, Louis XV (1715-1774), AV demi-louis d'or aux lunettes, 1731BB, Strasbourg. D/ B. drapé à g., tête nue. R/ Ecus ovales de France et de Navarre sous une couronne. Très rare. Très Beau. Provient de notre vente 65, 18 mars 2001, 1683. (kingdom of France, Louis XV, 1715-74, gold half louis of the spectacles of 1731, Strasbourg mint. Obverse: draped bust to left; reverse: oval arms of France and Navarre under a crown. Very rare, Very Fine.)"

This type, introduced in 1726 as part of Cardinal Fleury's coinage reform, terminated the constant financial manipulations which had bedeviled the regency period. Its initial face value was ten livres, which was raised to twelve livres in May 1726. This date is not listed in Droulers[2]. The demi-louis d'or aux lunettes is much scarcer than the larger louis d'or aux lunettes. The Strasbourg mint struck this type 1726, 1730, 1732, 1734-35; only the 1726 is common.

Recorded mintage: unknown[2].

Specification: 4.07 g, 0.917 fine gold, 20 mm diameter, reeded edge, designed by J.-C. Roëttiers, this specimen 4,07 g.

Catalog reference: Dr/4 № 808, Dr/2 № 541, Fr-462, Dupl-1641; Gad-329.

Source:

  • Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
  • [2]Droulers, Frédéric, Répertoire General des Monnaies de Louis XIII à Louis XVI (1610-1792), 4e édition. Paris: AFPN, 2009.
  • 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.
  • Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Royales Françaises, 1610-1792, 5me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2018.
  • [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 141, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils, S.A., 2019.

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