Sun King Coin | Louis XIV

Louis XIV, also known as ‘Louis the Great’ or the ‘King Sun’ reigned for over 72 years over the Kingdom of France from 1643 until his death in 1715. His reign of over 72 years and 110 days is the longest of any sovereign in history beating even the late Queen Elizabeth II who reigned for ‘only’ 70 years. 

His title as the ‘King Sun’ derived from his character as a flamboyant monarch who had a tremendous influence on culture, etiquette and European civilization at the time. Louis XIV had a rather strong idea about what he had to represent politically : his most famous quote is arguably “L’Etat, c’est moi” (I am the State). He was an absolutist monarch, but he also possessed an inner belief that, as a regent, his mission was to enlighten his people’s mind. During his lifetime, he aimed to become a cultural example of ‘raffinement’ and, as the Sun, he provided “Light” in ideas and manners for 72 long years on the throne! That said, he was not necessarily the best leader from a geopolitical point of view. He fought multiple expensive wars against his neighbors to inconclusive ends and failed to preserve French territories in North America. Upon his death in 1715, Louis XIV left his great-grandson and successor, Louis XV, a powerful kingdom, albeit in major debt after the thirteen-year-long War of the Spanish Succession.

Although an imperfect leader, his legacy as an extravagant, absolutist monarch lives on to this day including in the Palace of Versailles - the ostentatious French Baroque palace built during his reign visited by millions every year.

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.

Your coin will look very similar to the one shown in the photos. There will always be some variety, given our items are unique historical pieces. The display case included is openable so that you may easily handle and closely observe the artifact.If for whatever reason you get anything that does not fit this description you are entitled to your money back! 

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.