France 1762-A 2 sols
This specimen was lot 1275 in Stephen Album sale 47 (Santa Rosa, CA, September 2023), where it sold for $336. The catalog description[1] noted, "FRENCH COLONIES: Louis XV, 1715-1774, AR 2 sols (sou marqué), Paris, 1762-A, an attractive mint state example! PCGS graded MS62. These would be used in France, New France, the French Caribbean colonies, as well as Saint Pierre and Miquelon. These were widely used in the French American colonies as they were made with low grade silver and widely accepted." This coin, called a double sol aux 2 L couronnés, was an attempt by the government to displace all the low grade silver pieces circulating since the time of Louis XIII. It was theoretically equal to 24 deniers but was actually worth much less. Most survivors today are in poor condition. The type was struck 1738-64. Paris ("A") and Strasbourg ("BB") were the only mints for this type after 1752. It was not demonetized until 1845.
Recorded mintage: 205,600.
Specification: 2.18 g, 0.250 fine silver, 21-22 mm diameter, plain edge, designed by J.-C. Röettiers.
Catalog reference: KM-500.1, Dr/2 № 595, Dr/4 № 859.
- Droulers, Frédéric, Répertoire General des Monnaies de Louis XIII à Louis XVI (1610-1792), 4e édition. Paris: AFPN, 2009.
- 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.
- Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
- [1]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Norman Douglas Nicol, Auction 47, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2023.
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