Orange 1641 2 pistole Fr-196
This specimen was lot 42178 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Oklahoma City, OK, August 2025), where it sold for $5,880. The catalog description[1] noted, "FRANCE. Orange. 2 Pistole, 1641/0. Orange Mint. Frederic Henri de Nassau. PCGS AU-55. Displaying a fairly clear overdate, this near-Mint provincial issue features an abundance of shimmering brilliance across its alluring surfaces, with a somewhat irregular planchet only adding to its exceptional charm and character." The Principality of Orange was an enclave in the kingdom of France in the Rhone valley, ruled by the dukes of Nassau. The title passed to the Stadtholder of the Netherlands who remained a French ally so long as the Dutch were struggling with the Spanish. At the end of the Thirty Years War in 1648, the Spanish recognized Dutch independence and now William had to contend with Louis XIV, a much more formidable adversary. The French occupied Orange in 1672 and annexed it in 1713. This double pistole was struck on several occasions 1641-45 and was accompanied by an even rarer single pistole (KM 72, 75).
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 13.09 g, gold, this specimen 13.22 g.
Catalog reference: Fr-196; KM-73; Dupl-2160.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- 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.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, August 2025 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, featuring The Richard August Collection and the Richard Margolis Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2025.
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