FRANCE, Royal. Louis XIV le Roi Soleil (the Sun King), 1643–1715. Quinzain 1695 (Silver, 23 mm, 1.19 g, 12 h), overtstruck on a Henri III Douzain from Saint-Lô, countermarked in 1640. *LVD.XIIII.D.G.FR.ET.N.R. Cross fourchée with four fleur-de-lis in angles, countermark fleur-de-lis. Rev. SIT•NOMEN•DOMINI•BENEDICTVM 1695 Crowned coat of arms. Duplessy 1581A. Rare. Ragged edge, otherwise, host coin fair, countermark fine.


This coin beautifully illustrates the French practice of repeatedly repurposing older coinage during the seventeenth century, and it is an especially rare example of a coin struck over an earlier countermarked issue. Around 1640, under Louis XIII, a countermark was applied to a douzain (Ciani 1450) of Henri III of France (1574–1589), thereby restoring it to circulation during the reign of the Sun King.

A major monetary reform introduced by Louis XIV in 1692 subsequently revalued older coinage, including the countermarked pieces. The primary aim of the reform was to generate additional revenue for France’s expensive military campaigns in western Germany. The present coin was restruck during this reform. Even so, traces of both the earlier countermark and the douzain remain visible.