France 1740-Pau 2 sols

Heritage sale 3064, part of lot 29032

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 in France 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 1738-69 and is recorded for the Pau mint (cow mintmark) for 1739-46, 1749-52. This specimen was part of lot 29032 in Heritage sale 3064 (Chicago, April 2018), which sold for $528. The catalog description^[2] noted, "Quartet of Louis XV 2 Sols (Sous Marqués), 1) 1740-(cow) VF,Pau mint, R8. Medium gray. A tiny puncture from reverse to obverse in the center, which has been flattened out on the obverse. ...No silvering remains and there are a couple of spots of verdigris. From the Doug Robins Collection of Canadian Tokens."

Recorded mintage: 85,505 (priced^[1] as a very scarce date).

Specification: 2.18 g, .250 fine silver, 21-22 mm diameter, plain edge, designed by J.-C. Röettiers.

Catalog reference: KM 500.29, Vlack-283, Gad-281a, Dupl. 1690; Dr/2 no. 595a, Dr/4 no. 859a.

Source:

• ^[1]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.
• ^[2]Cristiano Bierrenbach and Warren Tucker, Heritage World Coin Auction 3064, featuring the Doug Robins Collection of Canadian Tokens, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2018.

Link to:

• 1739-T double sol aux 2 L couronnés
• 1740-A billon sol aux 2 L couronnés
• 1740-AA billon sol aux 2 L couronnés
• 1740-BB billon sol aux 2 L couronnés
• 1740-D billon sol aux 2 L couronnés
• 1740-O billon sol aux 2 L couronnés
• 1740-S billon sol aux 2 L couronnés
• 1740-T billon sol aux 2 L couronnés
• 1740-X billon sol aux 2 L couronnés
• 1740-G billon sol aux 2 L couronnés
• 1740-V billon sol aux 2 L couronnés
• 1740-W billon sol aux 2 L couronnés
• 1740-A double sol aux 2 L couronnés
• 1740-B double sol aux 2 L couronnés
• 1740-C double sol aux 2 L couronnés
• 1740-X double sol aux 2 L couronnés
• 1740-I double sol aux 2 L couronnés
• 1740-N double sol aux 2 L couronnés
• 1740-T double sol aux 2 L couronnés
• 1740-Q double sol aux 2 L couronnés
• 1740-Y double sol aux 2 L couronnés
• 1740-V double sol aux 2 L couronnés
• 1740-CC double sol aux 2 L couronnés
• 1740-AA vingtième d'écu au bandeau
• 1740-& vingtième d'écu au bandeau
• 1740-D dixième d'écu au bandeau
• 1740-A écu au bandeau
• 1740-G louis d'or aux lunettes
• 1740-L louis d'or au bandeau
• 1740-S louis d'or au bandeau
• 1740-W louis d'or au bandeau
• 1741-A double sol aux 2 L couronnés
• Coins and currency dated 1740
• return to French royal coinage (to 1793)