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12 Sols - Louis XV
| Issuer | Kingdom of France |
|---|---|
| Year | 1731-1732 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Orientation | Coin alignment ↑↓ |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | The reverse features the inscription ISLES DU VENT arranged in three lines across the central field, enclosed within an ornate cartouche or scroll-work border adorned with three fleurs-de-lis — one at the base and one on each lateral side — emblematic of the French royal house. Two additional fleurs-de-lis appear in the upper field flanking the legend, reinforcing the royal iconography. The date 1731 is placed prominently in the exergue below the cartouche. The entire design is contained within a milled border, and the inscription identifies the coin's intended circulation territory as the French Windward Islands (Martinique, Guadeloupe, and dependencies). |
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| Additional information |
The 12 sols denomination was part of a broader monetary reform ordered by the Crown in 1726, when Controller-General Orry stabilized French currency after decades of catastrophic manipulation under John Law's System and its aftermath. The fixed exchange rates established that year held with unusual discipline through the remainder of Louis XV's reign.
This two-year emission from the Metz or other provincial mints reflects the short window before production was consolidated — check the mint mark carefully, as attribution to specific ateliers meaningfully affects rarity within the type.