France 1645-A 1/2 louis d'or
This specimen was lot 545 in Stack's "Vermuele, Ward & Mexico Maxico" sale (New York, January 2010), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted, "FRANCE. Louis XIV, 1643-1715. ½ Louis d'or à la mèche courte, 1645 A. Paris. Young head r. with curl just below the ear, tiny 4 in the date. Rv. Cruciform double L's, lis in the angles, mintmark at center. Virtually as struck, a wisp of wear on laurel wreath. Choice About Uncirculated." All half louis are rare compared to their larger sisters and this type, struck 1643-45 and 1649-52, is no exception. The superseding type, the demi-louis d'or à la mèche longue, was issued 1646-61.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.37 g, .917 fine gold, 20 mm diameter, reeded edge, designed by Jean Warin.
Catalog reference: Gad-234, Fr-416, Dr/4 no. 382, Dr/2 no. 214.
- Droulers, Frédéric, Répertoire General des Monnaies de Louis XIII à Louis XVI (1610-1792), 4e édition. Paris: AFPN, 2009.
- Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
- 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]Kraljevich, John, and Frank Van Valen, The Vermuele, Ward & Mexico Maxico Collections, New York: Stack's, 2009.
Link to:
- 1644-A demi-louis d'or à la mèche courte
- 1645-A quart d'écu à la mèche courte
- 1645-D quart d'écu à la mèche courte
- 1645-F quart d'écu frappe au marteau
- 1645-A demi-écu à la mèche courte
- 1645-A écu à la mèche courte
- 1645-A louis d'or à la mèche courte
- 1652-A demi-louis d'or à la mèche longue
- Coins and currency dated 1645
- return to French Royal coinage (to 1793)
