$35,640.00 USD
The Louis II de Mâle Chaise d'Or was struck during the mid-14th century under Louis II de Mâle, Count of Flanders (ruled 1346–1384), a tumultuous era marked by the Hundred Years' War and the Black Death. This gold "Chaise d'Or" (French for "Golden Chair") was struck at the height of the bubonic plague in continental Europe, giving it a rich numismatic past.
The coin's name refers to its obverse design: Louis II is depicted enthroned under an ornate Gothic canopy, wearing armor and a crown. He holds a sword upright in his right hand and rests his left hand on a shield emblazoned with the heraldic Flemish lion. The surrounding legend (in medieval Latin) names him as Count of Flanders.
The reverse features a large floriated cross within a lobed quadrilobe, with delicate trefoils and rosettes filling the angles.
Each detail – from the Gothic arches to the Flemish lion – underscores the coin's historical significance as both a symbol of sovereign authority and a high-value trade coin of its day. Minted in Flanders (likely at Ghent or Mechelen), these gold coins were produced by hand hammering, which often resulted in irregular flans and incomplete details. Unique features such as the full Latin legends and complete throne motif on this specimen add greatly to its desirability, since many surviving examples are weakly struck or clipped.
The reverse displays a floriated cross within a decorative quatrefoil, typical of high medieval Gothic design. This religious and artistic motif represents divine legitimacy and reflects the influence of the Catholic Church on political authority during the era.
The coin is certified PCGS MS65, indicating a Gem Uncirculated state with lustrous surfaces, sharp strike, and minimal marks. Such a grade is astonishing for a medieval hammered gold coin. Most 14th-century gold pieces exhibit wear from circulation or flaws from crude minting; by contrast, an MS65 has virtually no post-mint wear and exceptional eye appeal.
