Louis d'Or

The Louis d'Or, introduced in 1640, was one of the first French coins to bear the full portrait of the reigning monarch, a bold move that turned currency into royal propaganda. That face, often Louis XIV's, stared down at transactions from Paris to the colonies.

Early versions were struck from high-purity gold, sometimes sourced from African or American mines, though exact origins blurred with time. The coin's weight varied—typically around 6.45 grams for the standard type—but designs evolved with each king, from Louis XIII's simple arms to the more ornate styles under his successors. Minting occurred at multiple sites, like the Paris mint, yet records for some years vanished in bureaucratic fires or revolutions.

We don't know the precise total mintage; estimates float around tens of millions, but that's guesswork. If you're hunting one, expect wear from heavy circulation—hardly the pristine relics myths suggest. Oh, and some say the coin's edge lettering was meant to foil clippers, but that's just edgewise thinking.