Pistole of Louis XIV

The Pistole of Louis XIV bore a sunburst on its reverse, a bold nod to the king's self-proclaimed solar glory that appeared on French coinage from 1643 onward.

That design choice wasn't just for show. Struck in 22-karat gold, these coins often weighed around 6.45 grams and featured the king's bust on the obverse, mirroring the era's absolutist flair. Minters in Paris and other French cities produced them in varying quantities, though exact figures for many years remain murky—records from that period are as scattered as the coins themselves after centuries of circulation.

While the Pistole served as currency for trade and tribute, its value fluctuated with wars and economic shifts. Some specimens show evidence of clipping or wear, a testament to their hard life in pockets and purses. As for myths about hidden treasures, I've seen enough to know they're mostly bunk. Counterfeits did circulate, but that's a story for another day.

Early Pistoles could fetch a premium today, depending on condition.