Louis d'or

This article is about a historical French coin. For the Dutch theatre prize, see Louis d'Or (award).
4 Louis d'or of Louis XIII (1640), first year of issue, Paris Mint.[nb 1]
4 Louis d'or of Louis XIII (1640), first year of issue, Paris Mint.[nb 1]

The Louis d'or (French pronunciation: [lwi dɔʁ]) is any number of French coins first introduced by Louis XIII in 1640. The name derives from the depiction of the portrait of King Louis on one side of the coin; the French royal coat of arms is on the reverse. The coin was replaced by the French franc at the time of the revolution and later the similarly valued Napoléon. The actual value of the coins fluctuated according to monetary and fiscal policy (see livre tournois), but in 1726 the value was stabilized.

The 1640 issue of Louis d’or contained five denominations: a half Louis and a one, two, four, and eight Louis.[2] All subsequent issues through 1793 were only denominated in half, one, and two Louis.[3]

  1. ^ Cuhaj 2009, p. 403.
  2. ^ Cuhaj 2009, p. 375.
  3. ^ Cuhaj 2009, pp. 375–403.


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