Medieval Kings on Gold Coins sold on Violity (part 2)

We continue our review of medieval coins sold on Violity. Now back to the continent again. France in the period of absolutism. Two kings: Louis XIV and his great-grandson, Louis XV. The first king reigned for 72 years, from 1643 to 1715, the second from 1715 to 1774. An entire epoch. Coins of this period are very popular with collectors. Gold coins of that time were called louis d'or (translated as "golden Louis"). This coin was first issued in the reign of Louis XIII in 1640. It was minted from gold of the 917th sample, the total weight of the coin was 6.75 g. A 1650 Louis d'Or coined with a portrait of the young Louis XIV – the future Sun King was sold on Violity. The obverse features a portrait of the young king and the title "Louis XIV, by the grace of God, King of France and Navarre". On the reverse there is a royal monogram and the inscription "Christ rules, conquers and governs".




Louis XIV

The year of coinage in 1650 was a very difficult one for France. Armed confrontation with powerful neighbors and the rebellion of large feudal lords inside the country - Fronde. No one could have imagined that the young king would ever be able to say "I am the State", and the rebellious nobles would call him the Sun King.
The portrait of his great-grandson Louis XV is seen on the Louis d'Or of 1742 coinage.



Louis 15

1742. A purposeful and educated young king who rules the state with the assistance of the wise Cardinal Fleury. Over time, the interest in government will dry up. It is then that he will utter the famous phrase: "At least the flood will follow us". The complete opposite of the French king is King Frederick William I of Prussia, his opponent, whose ducat was sold on Violiti for 45,445 hryvnia. Among his subjects, he was known as the Soldier King. The king considered the strengthening of the army and industry to be his main task. In small Prussia, there was little income, so in order to create a strong state, it was necessary to work and save. This can be traced by the ducat, the design of which is designed in a very strict style.



And the last coin in our review – 6400 flights of the Portuguese Queen Mary, minted in 1792.


Portugal is still a very rich country, with vast overseas colonies, but it has long been in decline. After the Napoleonic Wars and the declaration of independence of Brazil, which occupied almost half of South America and its most fertile lands, Portugal will no longer be a powerful power.