Louis XIV Advent calendar
Advent is now here. We have compiled a special numismatic calendar this year.
Twenty-six wonders of the Sun King to discover before Christmas.
A new item, quote, surprise, anecdote, or other interesting content to discover each day between now and Christmas.


December 24
Louis d’or au soleil
To conclude this sunny Advent calendar, a splendid coin was necessary. The louis d'or au soleil has been struck from 1709 to 1714, at the end of the long reign of Louis XIV. It has been created by the Engraver General, Norbert Roëttiers.
On the obverse, the king is aging (71 years old) but the majesty remains. On the reverse, a cross drawn with 8 letters L and, at the core, the sun continuing to shine brightly.
Coin France
Louis XIV, Louis d'or au soleil, Louis d'Or, 1711, Amiens
Here comes the end of this Advent calendar.
We hope you liked it and we wish you a merry Christmas.

December 23
Jean Varin
Jean Varin was a coin and medal engraver under the reign of Louis XIII then Engraver General under Louis XIV's one. He revolutionized the numismatic by being the first to generalize the use of the screw press technique at the expense of the hammered coinage.
Painting : "Jean Varin and childish Louis XIV" by François Lemaire (1654).
Coin France
Louis XIV, Écu à la mèche courte, Ecu, 1643, Paris, AU(55-58)

December 22
30 sols de Strasbourg
In 1681, Louis XIV conquers the city of Strasbourg. However, the city retains the right to strike its own currency: coin of 30 sols de Strasbourg and its divisions, coins of 15, 10, 4 and 2 sols. This right lasts until 1690. By decree the currency can be used in the whole Alsatian region. Here, this coin of II sols has been struck in an uncharted year (1685), a rarity.
Coin France
2 Sols, 1685, Strasbourg, EF(40-45), Billon, KM:246, Gadoury:98

December 21
Gabriel Nicolas de La Reynie
In the 17th century, due to a great disorganization of police services, Paris is one of the most dangerous city in Europe. The "Cour des Miracles", major place of crime, prospers. In order to manage this issue, Louis XIV launches a police reformation council driven by the chancellor Pierre Séguier from October 1666 to February 1667. In March 1667, Gabriel Nicolas de La Reynie becomes the first lieutenant general of Paris police.
France Medal
Louis XIV, Pierre Séguier, 1663, Warin, AU(55-58), Silver

December 20
Favorites
During its long and lavish reign, Louis XIV had many favorites. There has been the first one, the young Louise de La Vallière, who finally retreated to a convent. Then the Marquise de Montespan, the most flamboyant, embroiled in the scandal of the Affair of the Poisons. And lastly, Madame de Maintenon, his morganatic wife after the queen death.
Painting: "Marquise de Montespan" by Pierre Mignard (17th century).
France Medal
Louis XIV, Le Duel Aboli, 1662, Mauger, AU(50-53), Bronze

December 19
Louis d’or aux 4 L
This louis d'or has been created by the engraver Joseph Roëttiers. It has been struck in 1694. In that year, the Sun King is 56 years old. On the obverse, you may read LVD. XIIII. D. G, a sun engraving, then FR. ET. NAV. REX.
"Louis XIIII, by the grace of God, king of France and Navarre".
Coin France
Louis XIV, Louis d'or aux 4 L, Louis d'Or, 1694, Montpellier

December 18
Staging
The 17th century in France was a century of theater, with famous authors. Let's mention the dramatists Corneille and Racine and, of course, the king of comedy: Jean-Baptiste Poquelin under the alias of Molière. His sharp view on human beings, his style, sometimes caustic, always humorous and his undeniable talent have made him successful.
Painting: "Molière" by Pierre Mignard (1665)
“Beauty without intelligence is like a hook without bait.”
Molière, Tartuffe
France Medal
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin de Molière, Arts & Culture, Domard

December 17
Correspondence
Madame de Sévigné is a correspondent who lived at the Sun King's court. Thanks to the "Lettres" (Letters) she wrote between 1671 and 1696 - year of her death - we learn a lot about how was the life at court and about contemporary small and big events.
Painting: “Marquise de Sévigné” by Claude Lefèbvre (circa 1665)
"Life is short, and you are not so young, no need to hurry."
Letter from Madame de Sévigné to Comte de Bussy-Rabutin, August 13 1688
France Medal
Galerie des Grands Hommes, Marie Rabutin de Sévigné, History

December 16
Death of a queen
Due to a poorly treated abscess which turned into sepsis, queen Marie-Thérèse of Austria died in July 30th 1683 at Versailles. She was 45 years old.
She was unloved and the king cheated on her time and again. Louis XIV would have said when she died: "C'est le premier chagrin qu'elle m'ait causé" (This is the first sorrow she caused me).
France Medal
Louis XIV, Mort de la Reine, 1683, Mauger, MS(60-62), Bronze

December 15
Louis d'or au buste juvénile laurée
This type of louis named "au buste juvénile laurée" (juvenile bust with a laurel wreath) has been created by the engraver Warin. It has been struck for the first time in 1658. In that year, the Sun King is 20 years old.
On the obverse, a bust of young Louis XIV, with long hair, crowned by a laurel wreath. On the reverse, a cross drawn with letter L and, at the core, the mint letter. Here the letter A for Paris mint.
Coin France
Louis XIV, Louis d'or au buste juvénile, tête laurée, Louis

December 14
Coronation
Church of Notre-Dame de Reims, June 7th 1654
"The prelate (Bishop of Soissons) placed the Charlemagne's crown on the king's head (...). The crown was heavy and the officiant told Louis XIV to press it on his head, and he (the king) answered: «It fits well, and with God's help, it will never come off it.»" Extract of "The coronation of Louis XIV" by Hervé Pinoteau.
Painting : Louis XIV by Juste d'Egmont.
Below, a restrike of a silver commemorative medal.
France Token
Louis XIV, Sacre à Reims, 1654, Restrike, MS(63), Silver

December 13
A Royal Academy
The "Académie des inscriptions et médailles" is founded in 1663 by the prime minister, Jean-Baptiste Colbert. The academy is responsible of the mottos, French or Latine, engraved on monuments, medals and coins. In 1701, it becomes the "Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres" and its mandate is expanded.
France Medal
Louis XIV, établissement de l'Académie des Inscriptions et

December 12
Versailles
Sober hunting lodge under the reign of Louis XIII, Versailles became a somptuous castle under the reign of Louis XIV after colossal works started in 1661. In 1682, the king and his court left the Louvres behind and settled in the castle of Versailles. In that year, the Sun King is 44 years old.
Illustration : "A Stag Hunt at Versailles", attributed to Jean-Baptiste Martin.
France Medal
Louis XIV, Le Château de Versailles, 1680, Mauger, AU(55-58)

December 11
Phrase
The liard de France was worth 3 deniers, or 1/80th livre tournois (decimal system has been adopted much later, in 1795). Let's say it was a small weight: less than 4 grams of copper. That's why the phrase "ne pas avoir un liard" (literally: not owning any liard) was commonly used in the 17th century when you were broke.
Coin France
Louis XIV, Liard de France au buste juvénile, deuxième type

December 10
Saint-Cyr
At the behest of Madame de Maintenon whom he (discreetly) married in 1683, Louis XIV has founded the "Maison Royale de Saint-Louis" in 1686. This residential school for young and poor girls originated from nobility has been settled in Saint-Cyr. Its residents were known as the "Demoiselles de Saint-Cyr". The institution didn't make it through the French Revolution but its buildings host now the prestigious military academy of Saint-Cyr.
France Medal
Louis XIV, Maison Royale de SAint-Cyr, 1687, Mauger, AU(55-58)

December 9
Louis d'or aux insignes
Coin shown here today is named "Louis d'or aux insignes". This one has been struck in 1704 in Paris. In that year, the Sun King is 66 years old.
Two varieties of this type of coin are known. On one, Louis XIV wears a long hair wig, on the other one, as here, he wears a short wig. On the reverse, you may read "IMP. CHRS. REGN. VINC.": "The Christ reigns, conquers and commands".
Coin France
Louis XIV, Louis d'or aux insignes, Louis d'Or, 1704, Paris

December 8
Baroque music
Jean-Baptiste Lully was born in 1632 in Florence (Italy) and passed away in 1687 in Paris. Neat courtier and talented composer, he became superintendent of the royal music and music master of the royal family in 1661. Here the "Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs", composed for Molière's play "Le bourgeois gentilhomme".

December 7
Surgical strike
Early 1686, Louis XIV does not feel so good. Indeed, an unfortunate and painful anal fistula prevents the king from horse riding and he has to travel by sedan-chair. Fortunately, Charles-Francois Félix de Tassy, his surgeon, invents a surgical device that helps him to cure the king one year later. Following this happy ending, there are big celebrations throughout the kingdom.
France Medal
Louis XIV, Festin à l'Hôtel de Ville de Paris, 1687, Mauger

December 6
Impatience
"I have almost waited."
The quote is often credited to Louis XIV, waiting for a coach. Nevertheless, that's more an assumption than a fact.
However, in her "Memories", the Duchess of Orléans relates that he didn't tolerate delays.
France Royal
États de Bretagne, Vannes, Louis XIV, 1693, Medal, VF(30-35)

December 5
Rare & Stylish
The écu "à la cravate" (with a tie) is a creative and unusual coin. Indeed, at that time, the king is traditionally dressed as an ancient figure. On the contrary, on this one, Louis XIV is trendy: with a wig, wearing an elegant tie and bearing a thin moustache. If the écu à la cravate is (relatively) common, its divisions, as here the 1/4 d'écu, are rare.
Coin France
Louis XIV, 1/4 Écu à la cravate, 1/4 Ecu, 1679, Aix, AU(50-53)

December 4
Impertinence
If the Sun King was an art lover and if he made them glowing during his reign, some artists were less estimated than others.
Due to the delightful fabulist Jean de la Fontaine's literary impertinence and his strong friendship with the abhorred Fouquet, the king didn't valued him.
Here, the fabulist's portrait by Henri Millot (1699).
"The lion's court" - Jean de la Fontaine
FRANCE Arts & Culture
Jean de la Fontaine, Medal, MS(60-62), Gatteaux, Bronze

December 3rd
Rarity
The Lis d'or has been only struck in 1656 and 1657. It's gold, it's shiny, and it's rare. This new coin, hard to counterfeit, has been issued to fight the use of forged Louis d'or. Unfortunately, the population did not embrace it and the manufacturing stopped in two years. The Lis d'or was definitely out of circulation in 1679.
FRANCE Arts & Culture
Jean de la Fontaine, Medal, MS(60-62), Gatteaux, Bronze

December 2nd
Motto
Cardinal Richelieu, prime minister of late Louis XIII, valued the latin expression "Ultima ratio regum" a lot. It literally means "The final argument of kings". When all diplomatic actions are depleted, you may use the force. Louis XIV appropriated it and engraved it on his cannons.
FRANCE Arts & Culture
Jean de la Fontaine, Medal, MS(60-62), Gatteaux, Bronze

December 1st
Cardinal Mazarin
When Louis XIII dies, the young Louis XIV is still a child. His mother, Anne of Austria, is the Regent. She is supported by Cardinal Mazarin who is Prime Minister. It's a shady period and the Fronde, led by the "Grand Condé", is brewing. Here, Mazarin's portrait by Mathieu Le Nain.
FRANCE Arts & Culture
Jean de la Fontaine, Medal, MS(60-62), Gatteaux, Bronze

November 30
Louis d'or "à la mèche longue"
This louis d'or has been struck in 1652 and the young king depicted on it is 14 years old. The coin design has been created by the engraver Jean Varin. On the obverse, you may read "LVD. XIIII. D. G. FR. ET. NAV. REX.", which means "Louis XIIII, by the grace of God, king of France and Navarre".
FRANCE Arts & Culture
Jean de la Fontaine, Medal, MS(60-62), Gatteaux, Bronze
Louis XIV is born in 1638 and is crowned king of France in 1654, at 16 years old. In 1660, he marries Marie-Thérèse of Austria, Infanta of Spain. She becomes then queen of France and Navarre.
November 29
Historical landmarks
FRANCE
Arts & Culture
Jean de la Fontaine,
Medal,
MS(60-62),
Gatteaux,
Bronze
Illustrations:
“Louis XIV et la famille royale” by Jean Nocret (1670) (Public Domain)
"Portrait équestre de Louis XIV" by Rene Antoine Houasse (circa 1679) (Public Domain)