France. 1723-T Louis d’Or. Nantes Mint. Gadoury-338, Breen-353. Type I, Short Palms. MS-62 (PCGS). A superb piece, graded "Presque FDC" when last offered at auction in Zurich in 2002. Reflective and exquisitely lustrous, with bright rich yellow gold surfaces. Boldly struck and very attractive, though planchet adjustment marks remain visible around the rims of both sides, occasionally intruding into the fields but not in a significant way. Scattered hairlines are seen, but no major issues. Breen calls this issue "ex. Rare"; he also took pains to describe the différent as a "heart pierced upward by phallic spearpoint." The Ford Collection of gold coins from <em>Le Chameau</em> included one of these, but none were included in the 1971 Parke-Bernet sale. This superb example never saw saltwater submersion but would be a valuable addition to a collection of French coins or types familiar to the people of Nouvelle France. PCGS# 436648. From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier ex Lawrence R. Stack Collection; Hess Divos sale of the Stack Collection, October 2002, lot 112; Leo Shane, January 2009.
