Louis d'or à la mèche longue - Louis XV of France

A detailed reproduction of a 1717 French gold Louis d'or, featuring the youthful profile of Louis XV and the traditional crowned shield design.

This gold coin, known as a Louis d'or, represents the early coinage of Louis XV, minted in 1717. During this period, the young monarch was under the regency of Philippe II, Duke of Orléans. The obverse features a youthful profile of the king, wearing a crown and displaying the long, curled hair characteristic of the era's fashion. The Latin inscription surrounding the portrait identifies the monarch and his titles, confirming his status as King of France and Navarre.

The reverse displays a cross formed by four crowned shields, each bearing the fleur-de-lis, which is the traditional emblem of the French monarchy. A central letter, in this instance an A, denotes the Paris mint where the coin was produced. The surrounding text includes the motto 'CHRS REGN VINC IMP', an abbreviation for 'Christus regnat, vincit, imperat' (Christ reigns, conquers, commands). This religious invocation was a standard element of French currency, asserting the divine right of the sovereign.

As a numismatic specimen, this piece offers a glimpse into the economic and political climate of eighteenth-century France. The craftsmanship reflects the precision required by the royal mints, with the relief of the portrait and the heraldic symbols demonstrating the technical standards of the time. The gold surface retains the metallic lustre typical of high-purity coinage from the period. This print captures the fine details of the original strike, including the wear patterns and the texture of the metal, providing a clear view of both the obverse and reverse sides. It is a document of royal iconography, illustrating how the image of the king was disseminated through the currency of the realm.