France 1746-I 2 louis d'or
This specimen was lot 4273 in Sincona sale 9 (Zürich, October 2012), where it sold for 1200 CHF (about US$1,516 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANKREICH Louis XV. 1715-1774. 2 Louis d'or au bandeau 1746, Limoges. Kl. Schrötlingsf. und justiert. Sehr schön. (France, Louis XV, 1715-74, double louis d'or au bandeau of 1746, Limoges mint. A few dings and adjustment marks, very fine.)"
This type was struck 1742-73 in some numbers but the Limoges mint issued this type 1744-47, 1749-57, 1760-71 only. Altho other mints (notably Strasbourg) struck many double louis to pay troops fighting in Germany during the War of the Austrian Succession, all issues of this mint are rare. It was succeeded by the double louis d'or à la vieille tête.
Recorded mintage: unknown but very rare.
Specification: 16.31 g, 0.917 fine gold, 28-29 mm diameter, this specimen 15.17 g.
Catalog reference: Dr/4 № 792, Dr/2 № 542, Gad. 346, Dupl-1642, Fr-463, KM 519.8.
- Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
- 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.
- Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Royales Françaises, 1610-1792, 5me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2018.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Droulers, Frédéric, Répertoire General des Monnaies de Louis XIII à Louis XVI (1610-1792), 4e édition. Paris: AFPN, 2009.
- [1]Numismatic Coins, Medals, Banknotes & Books: Auction 9, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2012.
Link to:
- 1745-BB double louis d'or au bandeau
- 1746-W demi-écu au bandeau
- 1746 demi-écu au bandeau du Béarn
- 1746-G écu au bandeau
- 1746-N écu au bandeau
- 1746-W écu au bandeau
- 1746 écu au bandeau du Béarn
- 1746-S ½ louis d'or au bandeau
- 1746-A louis d'or au bandeau
- 1746-G louis d'or au bandeau
- 1746-H louis d'or au bandeau
- 1746-R louis d'or au bandeau
- 1746-W louis d'or au bandeau
- 1746-K double louis d'or au bandeau
- 1747-BB double louis d'or au bandeau
- 1747-L double louis d'or au bandeau
- 1754-I double louis d'or au bandeau
- Coins and currency dated 1746
- return to French royal coinage (to 1793)