CNG 96, Lot: 1112. Estimate $7500. Sold for $4500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

FRANCE, Royal. Louis XV le Bien-Aimé (the Well-Beloved). 1715–1774. AV Demi-Louis d’or dit “Noailles” (24mm, 6.15 g, 6h). Paris mint; différents: lis/star. Dated 1717-A. LVD · XV · D · G · FR · ET · NAV · REX ·, crowned head left; 1717 and lis below / CHRS · REGN · VINC · IMP ·, crowned cruciform coats-of-arms around central A; lis in quarters; star at end of legend. Droulers 731; Duplessy 1631; Ciani 2076; Friedberg 451. In NGC encapsulation graded MS 63.

The “Noailles” issue was struck on a slightly different weight standard, with a Louis of 12.237 grams, leading many to mistakenly believe this piece to be a full Louis, rather than a Demi (Droulers p. 619–20).