{"product_id":"1346-84-flanders-chaise-dor-louis-ii-de-male-fr-163-pcgs-ms63-1","title":"1346-84 Flanders Chaise d'Or Louis II De Male FR.163 PCGS MS63","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\"\u003e\u003cstrong style=\"text-indent: -0.25in; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eObverse\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-indent: -0.25in; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\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\/span\u003e\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\"\u003eThese gold francs were hammered coins (struck by hand), typical of 14th-century minting. Each coin was about 4.4-4.5 grams of fine gold (approximately 0.14 troy oz). Numismatic references catalog this type as Friedberg #163, Delmonte #466. It was likely struck at major Flemish mints such as Ghent or Mechelen (Malines).\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\n\u003cstrong style=\"text-indent: -0.25in; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e\u003cspan\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\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-indent: -0.25in; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eAn MS63 coin has sharp detail and only minor marks or planchet flaws visible under magnification\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;\"\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\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFor context, an NGC MS62 of this same type was sold by a dealer for $5,950, showing that even a one-point grade increase to MS63 yields a significant premium. The MS63 coin features vibrant luster and \"sharp detail of the king and nearly full legend\" – traits scarcely found on this issue.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e4.47g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"MIZE","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67728201416874,"sku":"40959039","price":8970.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1602\/9059\/products\/40954039.jpg?v=1671814991","url":"https:\/\/bmcham.com\/products\/1346-84-flanders-chaise-dor-louis-ii-de-male-fr-163-pcgs-ms63-1","provider":"Hard Asset Management, Inc","version":"1.0","type":"link"}