FRANCE / CAPETIANS - FRANCE / ROYAL Louis XIV (1643-1715). Louis d'or de Béarn aux huit L et aux insignes, flan neuf 1701, cow, Pau. Av. LVD. XIIII. D: G (sun) (different) - FR. ET. NA. RE. BD. King's laureate head right, short hair; (date) below. Rv. CHRS - REGN - VINC - IMP (different). Cross formed of eight L's leaning, each arm crowned, with (workshop) in a heart circle, surmounted by a hand of justice and a sceptre in saltire. Dy.1443A v. - G.253a v. (R5) - Fr.436 (workshop not listed) ; Gold - 6.72 g - 23.5 mm - 6 h From the Valenciennes Treasure, or the treasure of the munitions dealer Mahieu in Valenciennes. Discovered in 1949, it is known as the largest French coin treasure, with around 2,800 gold coins and 6,000 silver coins, a sum corresponding to the weekly needs of several regiments during the Malplaquet campaign in 1709. NGC AT 53 (1701A) (8583596-014). Our example, which bears a trefoil of reformation on the reverse, seems to have been struck on a new blank, of small modulus, with a few striae of adjustment, which seems unheard of in louis! (There are double louis of this type in new blanks for 1702). The strike is a little weak in the centre and the relief is slightly dirty. Very rare. TTB to Superb.