1770 France 1 Sol Montpellier Mint Louis XV Copper Coin VF

This 1770 France 1 Sol Copper Coin was struck at the Montpellier Mint during the reign of Louis XV, one of the longest-serving monarchs of France. Issued just four years before his death in 1774, this coin belongs to the later period of his reign, offering collectors a tangible piece of history from the twilight of the Ancien Régime.

The obverse features the right-facing portrait of Louis XV, styled as the “older head,” surrounded by the Latin legend LUDOV • XV • D • GRATIA (Louis XV, by the Grace of God). The reverse depicts the crowned royal arms of France and Navarre set within a wreath, with the date 1770 positioned above. Around the arms is the legend FRANCIÆ ET NAVARRÆ REX (King of France and Navarre).

Struck in copper, the coin circulated widely as part of the small-denomination currency of 18th-century France. This example is graded VF (Very Fine), showing honest circulation wear but retaining clear details of the king’s bust, crown, and shield. Coins from the Montpellier Mint carry the “N” mintmark that identifies their place of issue, adding a layer of numismatic interest for collectors focused on French provincial mints.

Weighing approximately 12,28 g and measuring around 28 mm in diameter, the 1 Sol was a practical everyday coin used throughout France in the decades leading up to the French Revolution. Today, it is a sought-after collectible for enthusiasts of French coinage, copper currency, or pre-revolutionary European history.

This coin not only represents the artistry of 18th-century French engraving but also the historic and economic climate of Louis XV’s reign, bridging the gap between the grandeur of the monarchy and the turbulence that was soon to come.