FRANCE / FEUDAL - FRANCE / FEUDAL Orange (Principality of), Frederic-Henri de Nassau (1625-1647). Pistole 1640, Orange. Av. (at 6 h) FRED. HENR. D. G. PRIN. AVR. CO. NAS. Bust cuirassed right, with flat collar, of Frederick-Henri of Nassau; (different) in exergue. Rv. (at 1 h) SOLI. DEO. HONOR. ET. GLO. (date). Crowned shield, quartered of Nassau, Catzenelleboggen, Vianden and Dietz with shield above quartered of Chalon and Orange with Genevois in the middle; above, the shield of Moers, and below, the shield of Buren. Dy.2163 (double pistol) - V/vdW.58 - Fr.197 ; Gold - 6.61 g - 24 mm - 11 h Top Pop: this is the only graded example! PCGS MS62 (59842937). Seems to be the second known example after the one in the Cabinet des Médailles in Paris [Beisteigui collection, notice FRBNF44987290]! This pistol retains its original brightness under a delicate patina, without traces of circulation. Almost a Fleur de coin. The pistole is sometimes considered to be the equivalent of the French écu d'or, or Spanish escudo from Philip II onwards (approx. 3.4 g). The Spanish double-weight coin or double escudo (around 6.75 g) was also called a pistole, and this usage prevailed thereafter, as the pistole became the equivalent of the Louis d'or from 1640 onwards. Molière's characters thus counted in pistoles or louis d'or. The double pistole (around 13.5 g) and quadruple pistole (around 27 g) were prorated. Note that for 1640, the double pistole is also known [Lafaurie, BSFN, April 1948].