1723-(Cow) French Colonies Louis d’Or. Pau Mint. Gadoury-338a, Breen-Unlisted. Type I, Short Palms. Le Chameau Treasure. EF Details--Environmental Damage (PCGS).

Even light yellow gold with a matte-like sandblast appearance on both sides. A trace of plaque remaining from submersion is seen at 3 of the date, some minor toning at lower obverse and upper reverse periphery. Adjustment marks cross the central reverse, as often seen, and less prominent adjustment is seen around the reverse periphery, particularly at right. The centering is a bit off, toward 6 o'clock on the obverse and 12 o'clock on the reverse, reflective of the somewhat cruder production values from this distant mint in the Pyrenees. While Breen included the 1724 Pau issues in his 1988 Encyclopedia, he omitted the 1723-dated Louis d'ors from this mint - inexplicable, considering he was the numismatic consultant for the initial 1971 salvors' sale at Parke-Bernet and that auction included six of them. Others have been sold at other auctions in more recent years, leaving the exact moment of this piece's arrival on the market uncertain. Its surfaces and look leaves no doubt, however, of its Chameau provenance. Since the 2006 Ford sale, we record five offerings of 1723 Pau Louis d'ors, all of which appear to be Chameau pieces. The most recent two were from the Dittmer Collection, Heritage February 2022, including the piece he acquired from the Ford sale as lot 414.

PCGS# 436644.

From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier from the 1725 wreck of Le Chameau; CGB's Mail Bid 12, June 2001, lot 1062; from Patrick Guillard (Paris), March 2005.