This is a wonderful example of this medieval French gold coin from the St. Pourcain mint and struck for King Charles VIII. This perfectly struck and perfectly centered coin is a stunner!  These rare gold pieces are next to impossible to find this nice. They usually have striking flaws (as a hand struck coin probably should most of the time) and other problems but not this fantastic specimen. A real prize for the gold coin specialist. NGC XF details - Surface Hairlines.


King Charles VIII of France, also known as Charles VIII "the Affable" (Charles VIII "l'Affable"), was a monarch who reigned from 1483 to 1498. Here are key points about his life and reign:

  1. Birth and Early Life: Charles VIII was born on June 30, 1470, in the Château d'Amboise in the Loire Valley, France. He was the son of King Louis XI and Charlotte of Savoy.


  3. Accession to the Throne: Charles became king at the age of 13 upon the death of his father, Louis XI, in 1483. Due to his young age, a regency was established, with his sister Anne of Beaujeu acting as regent.


  5. End of the Regency: Charles VIII reached the age of majority in 1491, and the regency officially ended. However, Anne of Beaujeu continued to wield significant influence.


  7. Italian Wars: One of the notable aspects of Charles VIII's reign was his involvement in the Italian Wars. He sought to assert French claims to the Kingdom of Naples and initiated the First Italian War in 1494.


  9. Expedition to Italy: In 1494, Charles VIII led a military expedition into Italy, marking the beginning of the Italian Wars. The Italian campaign had initial success, and he entered Naples in 1495.


  11. Retreat from Italy: Charles's occupation of Naples was short-lived, and he faced opposition from various Italian states and European powers. In 1495, he was forced to retreat from Italy.


  13. Death: Charles VIII died on April 7, 1498, at the age of 27, as a result of a striking his head on a low door lintel. He had no surviving heirs.


  15. Legacy: Charles VIII's reign is often remembered for the Italian Wars and the impact of his expedition on Italy. His campaigns set the stage for continued French involvement in Italian affairs in the subsequent decades.


  17. Marriage to Anne of Brittany: Charles VIII married Anne of Brittany in 1491, a political marriage that aimed to unite the Duchy of Brittany with the Kingdom of France. After Charles's death, Anne married Louis XII, who succeeded Charles as king.


  19. Succession Crisis: Charles VIII's death without a direct heir led to a succession crisis. His cousin, Louis XII, succeeded him to the throne. The marriage of Louis XII to Anne of Brittany helped consolidate the union of Brittany with the French crown.

Charles VIII's reign was relatively short but had significant implications, especially in the context of the Italian Wars and the expansion of French influence in Italy. His untimely death and the lack of a clear successor contributed to the complex political dynamics of the time.