1786 Gold Double Louis D'Or NGC MS63

The 1786 France Gold Double Louis d'Or of King Louis XVI, Limoges Mint, graded NGC MS63, is a superb pre-Revolutionary French gold issue struck during the reign of the last absolute monarch of France. As a Double Louis d'Or, this coin represents a higher-denomination format, used for significant transactions, royal payments, and military expenditures during a time of political and financial tension leading up to the French Revolution.

Obverse: Features a left-facing laureate bust of King Louis XVI, engraved by Benoît Duvivier, with the legend:
“LUD. XVI. D. G. FR. ET NAV. REX.” — Louis XVI, by the Grace of God, King of France and Navarre.
Plumes appear beneath the neck truncation, a signature mark of the engraver.

Reverse: Displays the crowned, quartered arms of France and Navarre, enclosed in twin shields beneath a royal crown. The motto reads:
“CHRS. REGN. VINC. IMPER.” — Christ reigns, conquers, commands, a Bourbon family motto used across multiple reigns. The date “1786” and mintmark “I” for Limoges appear at the base.

Struck in .917 fine gold, with a weight of approximately 15.3 grams, the Double Louis d'Or was the largest regular gold denomination of its era, with a strong presence in both domestic and international markets. The 1786 issue from the Limoges Mint is significantly scarcer than Paris-mint counterparts, especially in higher grades.

Graded NGC MS63, this example displays fully original luster, crisp engraving detail, and only minor surface contact — exceptional for a large gold coin of the late 18th century. The strike is sharp, with well-preserved legends and clean fields, placing this piece in the upper echelon of surviving examples.