BELGIUM. Flanders. Flandres dOr (Franc a Pied), ND (1346-84). Ghent Mint. Louis II de Male. NGC MS-63. Fr-161; Delm-464; DeMay-203. Weight: 4.15 gms. Obverse: L-VDOVIC o DEI G o COM Zo DNS:FLANDRI E, Louis stands facing, holding sword and shield. FLANDRES in exergue; Reverse: + BENEDICTVS : QVI : VENIT : IN : NOMINE : DOMINI, cross at center with F L A D surrounding. An exceptional survivor of this issue that is seldom encountered in such preservation. Toned in a lovely orange-gold hue and free from noteworthy friction. Traces of die rust show in the obverse fields but the luster remains overall vibrant. Nicely centered and double struck, with the most dramatic doubling seen in the lower obverse legends. A slight softness is seen at the Counts lower extremities and the devices are otherwise sharply defined.Louis II de Male was count of Flanders when that province was one of the richest regions of Europe. Nominally part of France, Louis refused to pay homage to either the king of France or the king of England, steering a neutral course during the Hundred Years War.Includes original collectors ticket with provenance back to 1966.
