Got this little item instead of a US gold Kennedy half dollar: France Gold Louis d'Or 1786 - Louis XVI (Actually a double Louis d'Or) Obverse: LUD XVI D.G. FR ET NAV REX Ludovicus XVI, Dei Gratia, Franciae et Navarrae Rex (Louis XVI By the Grace of God, King of France and Navarre) DUVIV (Engraver B. Duvivier) at base of head Mint privy mark of heron below Navarre was a kingdom split between Spain and France at the time. Reverse: CHRS REGN VINC IMPER 1786 Christus regnat, vincit, imperat (Christ reigns, conquers, governs) A (Paris Mint mark) Mint privy mark of lyre after "IMPER" Gold, 0.451oz, 15.24gm, 0.9167 fine, 28mm Slightly smaller and lighter than a United States $10 Eagle. From Heritage Auctions, graded AU with scratches, I was the only bidder. "Louises" are mentioned in Robert Louis Stevenson's famous 1883 novel Treasure Island as being found in a pirate treasure chest. One can look up Louis XVI, he died young and rather suddenly.
