View source for French Colonies 1670-A 5 sols

[[Image:H61253-99106o.jpg|300px|thumb|Heritage sale 61253, lot 99106]]
[[Image:H61253-99106r.jpg|300px|thumb]]
[[Image:Fr Colonies 1670A 5 sols obv Heritage 3021-20593.jpg|300px|thumb|Heritage sale 3021, lot 20593]]
[[Image:Fr Colonies 1670A 5 sols rev Heritage 3021-20593.jpg|300px|thumb|]]

The first specimen was lot 99106 in Heritage sale 61253 (Dallas, January 2022), where it sold for $9,600. The catalog description<sup>[1]</sup> noted, "[[France]]: A Classic Rarity of [[Canada, Lower Canada|Nouvelle France]]. Louis XIV 5 Sols (1/12 Ecu) 1670-A AU53 NGC, Paris mint, Type I. Among the technically finest examples of this classic New World French colonial rarity we have had the privilege to handle, outranking the Doug Robins (XF45 and AU50), Donald Partrick (VG8, VF35, and AU50), and Long Island (AU50) specimens by a notable margin. Most likely intended for use in the French West Indies despite their traditional attribution to New France, Acadia, and the French settlements in Newfoundland, the type always comes highly sought-after wherever it becomes available by both US and Canadian collectors. Lightly adjusted over the reverse as is usual, the whole of the piece is punctuated by a goldfish-orange backlight that emerges from beneath gunmetal patina." The second specimen was lot 20593 in Heritage sale 3021 (New York, January 2013), where it sold for $9,987.50. The catalog description<sup>[2]</sup> noted, "Nouvelle France. Louis XIIII silver 5 Sols 1670-A, special colonial issue struck with the reverse legend 'GLORIAM REGNI TVI DICENT' and intended for circulation in the French West Indies and Canada. AU50 NGC, a choice example with well-struck details and superb old-time patina. Listed in Charlton Canadian Coins 65th edition on page 5 and in the Red Book 66th edition on page 52 under colonial issues. Very rare and historically important issue, and an exceptionally attractive coin." Guilloteau lists this rare type along with a fifteen sols and a liard. The SCWC incorrectly shows a photo of this coin in its listing for the regular [[France 1671-& 1/12 ecu|''douzième d'écu au buste juvénile'']] (KM 199.1), which has a different reverse. French coinage for her colony in North America was sporadic, the sparse population and retarded economy didn't justify extensive issues. However, British America, with ten times the population, never received much coinage either.

''Recorded mintage:'' unknown.

''Specification:'' 2.29 g, 0.917 fine silver, 19-20 mm diameter, plain edge. 

''Catalog reference:'' KM 199.1 (under France), Br-502 (R4), LeRoux-251 (R7), Zay, ''Histoire monétaire des [[French Colonies|colonies françaises]]'', pg. 41, 2, Breen-256, Hodder, "An American Collector's Guide to the Coins of Nouvelle France," 3, VG-2, Maz-2, Gad-2, Lec-186, Robins-29001.

''[[Bibliography|Source:]]''
* Gadoury, Victor, and George Cousinié, ''Monnaies Coloniales Françaises, 1670-1988, 2me Éd.,'' Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 1988.
* Guilloteau, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, ''Colonies 1670-1942 et Metropole 1774-1942,'' Versailles, 1942.
* Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, ''Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed.,'' Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
* <sup>[1]</sup>Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, ''The Brittany Collection of French Coins Showcase Auction #61253,'' Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2021.
* <sup>[2]</sup>Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and David Michaels, ''Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3021, featuring the Cecil Webster, Richard P. Ariagno and Elizabeth McPhall Charters Collection,'' Dallas: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2012.

''Link to:''
* [[French Colonies 1670-A 15 sols]]
* [[France 1670-A ecu]]
* [[France 1671-& 1/12 ecu|1671-& ''douzième d'écu au buste juvénile'']]
* [[Coins and currency dated 1670]]
* return to [[French royal coinage (to 1793)]]

[[Category:Selections from Heritage sale 61253]][[Category:Selections from Heritage sale 3021]]