France 1740-G sol

Heritage sale 3064, part of lot 29013

This coin, called a sol aux 2 L couronnés, was an attempt by the government of France to displace all the low grade silver pieces circulating since the time of Louis XIII. It was theoretically equal to 12 deniers but was actually worth much less. Most survivors today are in poor condition. The type was struck 1739-48 with nearly all the production occurring on 1740. Droulers^[1] estimates the total production of this type to be around 2.3 million, compared to 81 million for the double sol. This specimen was part of lot 29013 in Heritage sale 3064 (Chicago, April 2018), which sold for $240. The catalog description^[2] noted, "Louis XV. Pair of Sols (1/2 Sous Marqués), 1) 1740-G VF, Poitiers mint. An attractive piece with brown, yellow and rose surfaces. Ex. John Ford collection (Stack's Ford XII, Jan. 2006, lot 85). ...From the Doug Robins Collection of Canadian Tokens."

Recorded mintage: 85,580^[1].

Specification: 1.09 g, .250 fine silver, 17-19 mm diameter, plain edge, designed by J.-C. Röettiers.

Catalog reference: Duplessy 1691; Ciani 2140; KM 501.6, Vlack-301, Dr/2 no. 597, Dr/4 no. 861.

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.
• ^[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-A billon sol aux 2 L couronnés
• 1739-ϽC billon sol aux 2 L couronnés
• 1739-P billon sol aux 2 L couronnés
• 1739-AA 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-P 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-V billon sol aux 2 L couronnés
• 1740-W billon sol aux 2 L couronnés
• 1740-C double sol aux 2 L couronnés
• 1740-ϽC 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-D louis d'or aux lunettes
• 1740-K louis d'or au bandeau
• 1740-L louis d'or au bandeau
• 1740-S louis d'or au bandeau
• 1740-W louis d'or au bandeau
• 1740-Y louis d'or aux lunettes
• 1740-Z louis d'or aux lunettes
• 1740-9 louis d'or au bandeau
• Coins and currency dated 1740
• return to French royal coinage (to 1793)