A beautiful large sized gold coin ( .3734 oz. which, at the time of this listing is valued at approx. $770 of strictly melt gold content alone) from the reign of King Louis XVIII who brought back the monarchy after the Napoleon period. This coin has beautiful reflective surfaces and appears to be very conservatively graded. It is housed in an older generation NGC holder when grading standards were more strict, so it's no surprise that the coin appears to be that of a higher grade. A prize for its next owner. NGC AU 50. and choice!


Louis XVIII, born Louis Stanislas Xavier, was the King of France and Navarre, who ruled twice during the early 19th century. His reigns were marked by periods of upheaval, including the French Revolution and the rise and fall of Napoleon Bonaparte. Here are key points about Louis XVIII:

  1. Early Life: Louis XVIII was born on November 17, 1755, as the fourth son of the Dauphin Louis, the son of King Louis XV. He belonged to the Bourbon dynasty.


  3. Flight and Exile: During the French Revolution, Louis XVIII fled France in 1791 as revolutionary forces gained strength. He spent much of the revolutionary and Napoleonic era in exile, residing in various European courts.


  5. First Restoration (1814-1815): With the fall of Napoleon in 1814, Louis XVIII was restored to the throne by the Allied powers in a period known as the Bourbon Restoration. He assumed the throne on April 6, 1814.


  7. Charter of 1814: Louis XVIII promulgated the Charter of 1814, which served as a constitutional document outlining a constitutional monarchy. The charter provided for a bicameral legislature and recognized certain individual liberties.


  9. Hundred Days: Napoleon Bonaparte's return to power during the Hundred Days in 1815 led to Louis XVIII's brief exile. He fled to Ghent in the face of Napoleon's return but returned to the throne after Napoleon's defeat at the Battle of Waterloo.


  11. Second Restoration (1815-1824): Following Napoleon's final defeat, Louis XVIII returned to France in July 1815 and resumed his rule. This period is known as the Second Restoration.


  13. Ultraroyalists and Moderate Rule: Louis XVIII faced challenges from both the ultraroyalists, who sought a return to absolute monarchy, and the liberals who wanted more progressive reforms. Louis XVIII pursued a moderate course to maintain stability.


  15. Death and Succession: Louis XVIII died on September 16, 1824. His brother, Charles X, succeeded him. Louis XVIII had no direct heir, and the throne passed to the branch of the Bourbon family.


  17. Legacy: Louis XVIII's reigns are often seen as attempts to reconcile the monarchical traditions of the past with the demands of a changing political landscape. The Bourbon Restoration sought a balance between royal authority and constitutional principles.


  19. July Revolution and End of the Bourbon Restoration: The Bourbon Restoration came to an end in 1830 with the July Revolution, which led to the abdication of Charles X. The July Monarchy, under Louis-Philippe, followed.

Louis XVIII's rule marked a transitional period in French history, as the country navigated the aftermath of the French Revolution and the challenges of political and social change. His attempts at constitutional monarchy reflected the evolving political landscape of post-revolutionary France.