1723-D French Colonies Louis d’Or. Lyon Mint. Gadoury-338, Breen-308. Type I, Short Palms. Le Chameau Treasure. AU Details--Environmental Damage (PCGS). Just 10 examples of this date-mint combination were included in the original 1971 Parke-Bernet offering. John Ford owned two, including this one. Nice medium yellow gold, even in appearance and attractive. The surfaces are a bit sandblasted but remain fairly natural looking. Only trivial marks are seen, along with a bit of dirt on the cheek. Ideally centered and very well struck on both sides, this piece is also completely free of adjustment marks, making it an ideal example to showcase the type. Breen called this variety "extremely rare." PCGS# 436637. From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier from the 1725 wreck of Le Chameau; Alex Storm and salvors to John J. Ford, Jr., 1971; our (Stacks) sale of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, Part XIII, January 2006, lot 389.
