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Auction: 22007 - British and World Coins and Commemorative Medals Autumn Auction
Lot: 321

NGC AU53 | France, Royale (Capetian), Louis X, in the name of Saint Louis IX (1226-1270), Royal d'Or de Noyon à la "couronne d'épines" or the 'Crown of Thorns of Noyon', c. 1314-1316, + LVDOVICVS° DEI° GRA'° REX° FRAN', crown with REGALIS above, AVREVS below, rev. + XPC° VINCIT° XP'C° REGNA'° XP'C° IMPERAT, Floriane gros with voided quadrilobe terminals, a voided quatrefoil and crown of thorns at centre, 4.23g, 8h, m.m. cross pattée (Capet [1876], Pl. X, no. 5; Ciani 176; Hoffman 5; Dy -; Or -; BN MS 5524), light tone on a neat round flan, a pleasing very fine, of the highest rarity, one of just six recorded, and thus of the utmost importance to French numismatics reflecting the historic acquisition of Jesus' Crown of Thorns by Saint Louis IX in 1239, and only the second to appear at commerce in the past Century, in NGC holder, graded AU53 (Cert. #6295558-001) [Second Finest Certified]

provenance
Sotheby's, 7-8 October 1993, lot 78
Treasure of Deauville, 1861 - one of five recovered, one of which entered the Bibliotheque Nationale, another resurfaced in Monaco in June 2022 (MDC 9, lot 393 - 60,000 Euros), having passed through the Dr Corre (2018) and 'Viscount B' (1991) collections



The Royal d'Or à la couronne d'épines is one of the most enigmatic and desirable coins in the entirety of French numismatics. First described and reproduced in woodcuts of the 16th Century (Manuscript 5524, Philippe de Lautier, Bibliotheque Nationale, fol. 42v°-43r°), it was not until 1861 that examples surfaced in a trove uncovered during construction of the town of Deauville. Further scholarship in 1619, records the issue amongst the figures of French money by Jean-Baptiste Haultin, and again in the annals of François Le Blanc (1690); both of whom attributed it to the reign of Louis IX.



According to Baron J. Pichon, who documented the Noyon find, five examples were recovered from the trove, all from the same die pairing, all of which made their hands into renowned Parisian coin dealers Rollin & Feuardent and from which the following list of appearances can be constructed:


i) Bibliotheque Nationale, acquired by private treaty 30 January 1862

ii) Gréau, Hoffmann Auction, 6-8 May 1867, lot 276

iii) Colson, Hoffmann Auction, 6 February, 1868

iv) Jarry, Rollin and Feuardent Auction, 21 June 1878, lot 499

v) Pichon, Rollin and Feuardent Auction, 24 April - 1 May 1897, lot 690

vi) Meyer, Rollin and Feuardent Auction, 26 May - 14 June 1902, lot 636

vii) De Beistegui, collection purchased en bloc bought by the Medals Cabinet of the Bibliotheque Nationale, 1944

viii) Viscount de B, Weil Auction, 8 April 1991, lot 76

ix) Dr Corre, Alde Auction, 9 March 9, 2018, lot 27; MDC 9, 3 June 2022, lot 393 - 72,000 Euros



Its rarity has previously led to questions about its authenticity, including by Hoffmann in his 1878 treaty. However the artistry, rich toning exhibited on this example and documentation have all suitably allayed that concern for the modern collecting audience, further illustrated by the third-party grading assessment.



Bibliography :

Blanchet and Dieudonné, "Manuel de numismatique française" - Tome II (1916)

Guilhiermoz, "Avis sur la question monétaire donnés aux rois Philippe le Hardi, Philippe le Bel, Louis X et Charles le Bel", Revue numismatique (1922), pp 73-80

Hoffmann, "Les monnaies royales de France, depuis Hugues Capet jusqu'à Louis XVI" (1878)
Kind and Sarah, "Louis Farigault (1860-1942), Collectionneur et Faussaire", Revue numismatique (2018), pp 507-561

Lafaurie, "Les monnaies des rois de France", Tome I (1951)

Le Blanc, "Traité historique des monnoyes de France" (1690)

Longpérier, "Le royal d'or de Saint Louis", Revue numismatique, (1861), pp. 363-365, and 457

Pichon, "Sur les monnaies d'or de Saint Louis", Annuaire de la Société française de numismatique (1866), pp. 182-186


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Sold for
£45,000

Starting price
£15000