France
Louis XIV Ecu à la mèche courte 1644-A MS65 NGC, Paris mint, KM144.1, Dav-3798, Gad-201. An incredibly lustrous and enchanting gem, featuring a sublimely attractive steel gray tone highlighted by an underlying radiance of goldenroad, burnt sienna, and seafoam green. Quality almost never seen on this type, with impeccable fields and a stunning, sharp strike. A youthful portrait of the new king, displayed here in his second year of reign at the tender age of six. Compare to a similar, albeit lesser, example, an NGC MS64, which realized a hammer of ChF 4,800 in late 2014.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 5000-7500 USD