France. 1670-A Louis d’or. Paris Mint. Gadoury-247. MS-64 (PCGS). While not a colonial issue and related to the Gloriam Regni issues only by virtue of their shared date and mintmark, the gold Louis of this year have always been popular adjunct inclusions in cabinets such as these. This is a particularly lovely one, with extraordinary cartwheel luster over rich yellow gold surfaces. Centering, strike, and eye appeal are all superb, and the surfaces are pristine. Only some very subtle wispy hairlines keep this piece from the Gem category. While examples of this issue turn up in an auction somewhere in the world about once a year, we have not offered one since an NGC AU-58 crossed the block in January 2018. Gems (or near gems) are extraordinarily rare. <p><p>This issues interest to North American collectors dates back well over a century. A specimen offered in the 1907 Stickney sale brought $75; the 1670-A 5 sols in the previous lot brought $4.50. Collectors of the modern generation may recall seeing the Stickney coin included with the French Colonies pieces in the 1980 Garrett sale. Henry Chapmans 1908 ANA sale (which also included the 15 sols and 5 sols of this date and mint) likewise included an example of this issue. Syds inclusion of this piece is a nod to that long tradition, though his example is even nicer than the Garrett-Ellsworth-Stickney coin. PCGS# 620228. PCGS Population: 1; none finer. From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier ex Anthony Terranova Collection; John Agre and Dave Wnuck (Coin Rarities Online), via Mike Wierzba, January 2008.
