French Colonial Fleur-de-Lis Coin Pendant

Obverse: Fleur-de-Lis
Reverse:  Pondicherry written in Tamil on the reverse (புதுசசெரி)
Date: 1637 - 1705
Bezel: Sterling Silver
Weight:  5.70 grams
Diameter: 20 mm / .78 in

Description

This item is an authentic French Colonial coin, placed in a handmade bezel of Sterling Silver. There is only 1 of this item; you will receive the exact pendant shown in the photos.  

Chain necklaces can be purchased separately through this link.

History of the Artifact

These exotic bronze coins were minted in the French Colonial possession of Pondicherry, located on the Eastern Coast of modern day India. 

French presence in Pondicherry began in 1668 with the establishment of the first French Trading Centre in what was then a Dutch controlled territory. By 1674, the French had occupied the territory and continued minting coins, as the Dutch had done, with a new design reflecting the values of the new conquerors. The designs featured on the Bronze ‘Dou-Dou’ represent a mingling of cultures featuring both French and local motifs. To encourage trade with Indian businessmen, the French included the name of Pondicherry written in Tamil on the reverse (புதுசசெரி). The obverse features a classic French Heraldic symbol - a Fleur de Lys - three lily petals tied together, representative of the Catholic nation of France. These coins went on to be minted from 1720 and 1835 in Pondichéry.

Ancient Artifacts guarantees the Authenticity of items sold through a three layer system of protection: 

1. Ancient Artifacts exclusively sources artifacts from trusted and reputable antique distributors, many of whom have been selling Artifacts for decades.  
2. Next, the Artifact is inspected by an expert team member, who is professionally trained in counterfeit detection After the artifact passes inspection, the Certificate of Authenticity is signed and the Artifact is packaged. 
3. Finally, Ancient Artifacts gives an additional layer of protection by promising a full refund with no questions asked, in the extremely unlikely event that a counterfeit slips through our vetting process.

Obverse: Fleur-de-Lis
Reverse:  Pondicherry written in Tamil on the reverse (புதுசசெரி)
Date: 150 - 65 BC
Bezel: Sterling Silver
Weight:  5.70 grams
Diameter: 20 mm / .78 in

Description

This item is an authentic French Colonial coin, placed in a handmade bezel of Sterling Silver. There is only 1 of this item; you will receive the exact pendant shown in the photos.  

Chain necklaces can be purchased separately through this link.

History of the Artifact

These exotic bronze coins were minted in the French Colonial possession of Pondicherry, located on the Eastern Coast of modern day India. 

French presence in Pondicherry began in 1668 with the establishment of the first French Trading Centre in what was then a Dutch controlled territory. By 1674, the French had occupied the territory and continued minting coins, as the Dutch had done, with a new design reflecting the values of the new conquerors. The designs featured on the Bronze ‘Dou-Dou’ represent a mingling of cultures featuring both French and local motifs. To encourage trade with Indian businessmen, the French included the name of Pondicherry written in Tamil on the reverse (புதுசசெரி). The obverse features a classic French Heraldic symbol - a Fleur de Lys - three lily petals tied together, representative of the Catholic nation of France. These coins went on to be minted from 1720 and 1835 in Pondichéry.

Colonial-era coins, minted during the period of European colonization in the Americas (16th–18th centuries), were mass-produced to support the growing economies of colonies and facilitate trade across vast empires. These coins were typically made of durable metals like silver, gold, and copper, using presses or hammered techniques that allowed for large-scale production. 

Owning a colonial-era coin today is possible due to their durability, widespread use, and the frequency with which they were hoarded or lost during their time of circulation. Many coins were made of precious metals, which not only ensured their resilience to corrosion but also motivated individuals to preserve them as stores of value. Hoards of coins buried for safekeeping or lost in shipwrecks have been discovered over the centuries, contributing to their availability in the modern market. Additionally, their use across large geographical areas, especially coins like the Spanish dollar, means that colonial coins were widely dispersed, increasing their chances of survival.