1772 France 1 Sol Troyes Mint Louis XV Copper Coin VF-XF

This 1772 France 1 Sol copper coin was struck during the reign of Louis XV at the Troyes Mint (mintmark V). A late-issue piece from the Ancien Régime, it offers collectors a tangible connection to pre-revolutionary France.

The coin weighs 10.84 g, measures 28 mm in diameter, and is struck in copper. On the obverse, the design shows the older head of Louis XV facing right, with the Latin legend LUDOV • XV • D • GRATIA •, meaning Louis XV, by the Grace of God. The reverse displays the crowned square arms of France and Navarre with the date above, encircled by the inscription FRANCIÆ ET NAVARRÆ REX 1772 (King of France and Navarre 1772).

This piece was engraved by Norbert Roettiers, a member of the famous Roettiers family of engravers, who worked on numerous French coinage designs of the 18th century. His craftsmanship is evident in the fine detail of the portrait and heraldic arms, even after circulation.

Graded VF–XF (Very Fine to Extremely Fine), the coin retains sharp detail on the king’s portrait, crown, and shield, with only moderate wear consistent with its age. Its preservation makes it an attractive example of an 18th-century French copper issue.

The 1 Sol denomination was widely used in daily life, making well-preserved examples scarcer. Issued just two years before Louis XV’s death in 1774, coins like this mark the final years of his reign and the closing chapter of the Ancien Régime before the social and political upheavals that culminated in the French Revolution.

For collectors of French coins, world copper currency, or 18th-century European history, this 1772 Troyes Mint issue is a significant and desirable piece, combining historical context, fine engraving, and rarity.