FRANCE: LOT of 4 billon "sous marqués " including 1739-O (Fine), 1744/3-BB (VF), 1755-A (VF), and 1764-A (EF), retail value $350, lot of 4 coins. These types were used extensively in the French possessions in North America; La Louisiane and Nouvelle-France. Under the Edict of October 1738, all of the earlier French coins of 30 Deniers were recalled and replaced with a new billon coin with a value of 24 Deniers. These "Double Sols " or "Sous Marqués " were issued from 1738 to 1764. In the earliest years, all of the French mints produced Double Sols; in later years, only the Paris and Strasbourg facilities were used. Although billon is already an alloy with a low percentage of silver, many of the later issues were debased even further. In extreme cases, the only silver in the coins was a thin plating applied over the surfaces.

Estimate: USD 200-300