1718-B, France, Louis XV. Rare Gold Louis d’Or Coin. Top Pop 1/0! PCGS AU-50
1718-B, France, Louis XV. Rare Gold Louis d’Or Coin. Mint Place: Rouen (B) Mintage: 22,723 pcs. 1-year type for this mint! Certified and graded by NGC as AU-50! Denomination: Gold Louis (Louis d’Or à la croix du Saint-Esprit) References: Friedberg 463, Gadoury 336, KM-438.3. Diameter: 25mm Weight: 9.78gm Material: Gold! Obverse: Laureate bust of the yourng Louis XV right. Mint initial (B) below. 1718′ / B Reverse: Cross of the Holy Spirit with three fleur-de-lis symbols in center. Legend: (privy mark) CHRISTVS REGNAT VINCIT IMPERAT. Christ conquers, Christ reigns, Christ commands! The Order of the Holy Spirit (French: Ordre du Saint-Esprit; sometimes translated into English as the Order of the Holy Ghost), is a French order of chivalry founded by Henry III of France in 1578. Today, it is a dynastic order under the House of France. It should not be confused with the Congregation of the Holy Ghost or with the religious Order of the Holy Ghost. It was the senior chivalric order of France by precedence, although not by age, since the Order of Saint Michael was established more than a century earlier. Although officially abolished by the government authorities in 1830 following the July Revolution, its activities carried on. It is still recognised by the International Commission on Orders of Chivalry. Louis XV (Versailles, 15 February 1710 – Versailles, 10 May 1774) ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1 September 1715 until his death on 10 May 1774. Coming to the throne at the age of five, Louis reigned until 15 February 1723, the date of his thirteenth birthday, with the aid of the Régent, Philippe, duc d’Orléans, his great-uncle, thereafter taking formal personal control of government. Unexpectedly surviving the death of most of the royal family, he enjoyed a favourable reputation at the beginning of his reign and earned the epithet. However, in time, his lack of morals, general inability to effectively reform France and the Monarchy, and the perceived failings of his foreign policy lost him the affection of his people, and he ended his life amongst the most unpopular kings of France. While historians have traditionally treated Louis XV harshly, more recent research has suggested that he was in fact very intelligent and dedicated to the task of ruling the largest state in Europe, bar Russia. His nagging indecision, fueled by his awareness of the complexity of problems ahead, as well as his profound timidity, hidden behind the mask of an imperious king, may account for the poor results achieved during his reign. In many ways, Louis XV prefigures the “bourgeois rulers” of the romantic 19th century. While dutifully playing the role of the mighty king carved out by his predecessor and great-grandfather, Louis XIV, Louis XV in fact cherished nothing more than his private life far away from the pomp and ceremony of Court. Having lost his mother while still little more than an infant, he longed for a reassuring and motherly presence, which he tried to find in the intimate company of women, something for which he was much criticized both during and after his life. This item is in the category “Coins & Paper Money\Coins: World\Europe\France”. The seller is “coinworldtv” and is located in this country: AT. This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Composition: Gold
- Country/Region of Manufacture: France
- Certification: PCGS
- Denomination: Louis d’or
- KM Number: 438.3.
- Grade: AU 50
- Year: 1720