{"product_id":"1346-1384-gold-franc-louis-ii-de-male-ngc-ms62-1","title":"1346-1384 Gold Franc Louis II De Male NGC MS62","description":"\u003cp class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap\"\u003eThe 1346-1384 Flanders Gold Franc was issued under Louis II de Mâle, Count of Flanders from 1346 until 1384. This era encompassed the late Middle Ages, including the Hundred Years' War and the Black Death, during which Flanders was a wealthy trade hub. Louis II inherited the county after his father's death at the Battle of Crécy in 1346.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap\"\u003eThe coin circulated during a period when Flanders was at the height of its medieval wealth – its textile cities Bruges and Ghent were among the richest in Europe. Such coins likely facilitated large transactions in international trade and may have been used in diplomatic payments.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast;\"\u003eObverse\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e: Louis II seated on a Gothic throne, holding a sword upright in his right hand and a shield emblazoned with the Flemish lion in his left. The surrounding Latin legend reads \"LVDOVIC⁰ DEI GRĀ COMĒS Z DNS FLANDRIĒ\" (Louis by the grace of God, Count and Lord of Flanders).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap\"\u003e\u003cstrong style=\"text-indent: -0.25in; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReverse\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-indent: -0.25in; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e: A floriated cross within a quatrefoil (quadrilobe), with trefoil and rosette motifs in the angles. Around the cross is the motto \"XPC VINCIT XPC REGNAT XPC IMPERAT\" (abbreviating Christus vincit, Christus regnat, Christus imperat), which translates to \"Christ conquers, Christ reigns, Christ commands.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap\"\u003eThe subject coin is graded PCGS MS63, indicating a well-preserved, \"Choice Uncirculated\" specimen with attractive surfaces:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap\"\u003eThe coin shows no wear from circulation and retains original mint luster\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast;\"\u003eThis is extraordinary for a 14th-century gold coin: most medieval coins that survive were circulated or buried, typically grading much lower (VF or XF at best)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap\"\u003eAn MS63 coin has sharp detail and only minor marks or planchet flaws visible under magnification.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"text-indent: -0.25in; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eThe PCGS description of a similar piece notes a \"strong even strike with bold complete legends on a broad flan\" and \"smooth satiny surfaces\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-indent: -0.25in; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-indent: -0.25in; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eWith only a single higher-graded example known and almost none with this degree of detail and eye appeal, it ranks among the finest extant representatives of 14th-century Flemish gold coinage.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"MIZE","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67728178118826,"sku":"6351814-004","price":8858.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1602\/9059\/files\/10_86a3613d-5fbf-40f8-91d7-5b07b3fe2326.jpg?v=1745259299","url":"https:\/\/bmcham.com\/products\/1346-1384-gold-franc-louis-ii-de-male-ngc-ms62-1","provider":"Hard Asset Management, Inc","version":"1.0","type":"link"}