Well someone has to keep Josh busy.......

IlikeZARcoins

so it might as well be me.





Sorry for cut piccies but it's that darn 50K limit getting in the way again.

oldshep

Double WOW! I am assuming that is gold????? Give us some info.

Shep

IlikeZARcoins

Well I liked the coin when I saw it on Josh's TV show ( ho hum ).

I then ran into it on Ebay, subsequently I used the image as a screensaver. Usually I end up buying the coins that I use for my screensavers - so.....I had to PM Josh and we worked out a deal.

I am the first to admit that I know nothing about this coin except that I really like it so what follows is Josh's description.

If anyone can add some more info lease go ahead.


FRANCE Royal Issues Jean II, 'le Bon' 1350-1364

AV Mouton d'Or 4.60g. 30mm. Struck 1355

Nimbate 'Agnus Dei' (Lamb of God) standing left before cross with pendant; IOH-REX in exergue.

+AGN. DEI. QVI. TOLL. PECA. MUDI. MISERERE. NOB

Compound cross fleuronée, quartered with fleurs-de-lys, all within polylobe.

XPE: VINCIT: XPE: REGNAT: XPE: IMPERAT

Duplessy 291; Ciani 354; Friedberg 280

EF. Superlative strike; sharp and complete, and scarce as such.

Reverse double-struck, obverse field lightly polished, a couple tiny dents in rim -suggestive of a former fit in a 4-pronged bezel.

The double strike is probably why the obverse was struck up so perfectly, as the flan remained in the obverse die for two strikes. Distinguishable from the cheaper Jean & Wenceslaus Brabant issue by the use of 'REX' instead of 'DVX' on obverse.

drjules

Awesome. You don't see many sheep on coins though

Dr J

BS

Congrats, that's very nice.

1jester

That's superb. Congratulations!

IlikeZARcoins

Here's a bit more info from the 'Guru' himself:


Jean II was the first to strike the denomination known as the Mouton D'or. Jean II took a considerable interest in money during his administration, mostly in spending it on himself. Ciani notes that the reign of Jean II was one of the worst in French history due to the fact that he was taken prisoner by the English during the Battle of Poitiers in 1356 by Edward, the Black Prince. (Edward III). Apparently, in 1360, he signed a treaty that set his ransom at 3,000,000 crowns and was allowed to return to France in exchange for his son, Louis Duc d'Anjou, so that he could raise the funds for his ransom. His son escaped from the English. Jean, thinking his son was dishonourable, returned to England to offer himself as prisoner again. He died a few months later.

The Mouton D'or was struck in 1355 after an ordinance issued by Jean II on Jan 17, 1355. Previous kings had struck gold coinage bearing the "Lamb of God" on the obverse, however in a smaller format. They were known as "Agnel D'or" or Golden Lamb/Lamb of Gold. They were smaller than the Mouton D'or which means Golden Sheep/Sheep of Gold. I imagine since a Sheep is a grown Lamb, that is how the nomenclature came about for the second coin.

Stork

A golden sheep...makes me think of Jason and the Argonauts for some reason . Beautiful coin though! And as usual, the history lesson makes it even more so.


Cathy

Cladiator

An excellent golden fleece

Silvereagle82

Marcell,
Very very nice. I'm jealous

To add a little more to what you've already said.
The inscription:
"AGN. DEI. QVI. TOLL. PECA. MUDI. MISERERE. NOB"
translates in English to
"O Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world, have mercy on us."

A great addition to your gold collection

IlikeZARcoins

Thanks for all the compliments guys & girls.

I am thinking of having the coin slabbed in order to preserve it properly.

Would you do this yourself and which grading company would you choose and why ?

Steve27

Nice coin!

I would go with NGC; seems they actually send your coins back to in a reasonable amount of time.

Aethelred

There are few things in this world as pretty as medieval French gold!

Silvereagle82

<< <i>Thanks for all the compliments guys & girls.

I am thinking of having the coin slabbed in order to preserve it properly.

Would you do this yourself and which grading company would you choose and why ? >>



Marcell,

Be aware of Josh's comments regarding the coin:

"obverse field lightly polished, a couple tiny dents in rim -suggestive of a former fit in a 4-pronged bezel"

If this is indeed the case, you may end up with a "no grade" from NGC or PCGS !!!!!

IlikeZARcoins

Yes - I had discussed that with Josh. I think that sending the coin to NCS would be the best idea as if they think the coin is OK then they'll pass it on to NGC.

Now the question remains if I really DO want it slabbed. Hmmmmm.