Canada, Compagnie des Indes Occidentales, Louis XIV, 5 Sols, 1670a, Paris, 2.28g/6h (Charlton 2; Durst 44; Gadoury-Cousinié 2; Mazard 2; Ci. 2065; cf. Salvesen Sale, lot 66). Good fine, very rare (£500-700)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, World Coins from the Beeton Cabinet.

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Authorised by a royal declaration of 9 February 1670, the Compagnie des Indes Occidentales issued silver 15 and 5 Sols which were intended as general trade coins for all the concessions where the company carried out business. In 1719 the company merged with the Compagnie d’Occident pour le Commerce de la Louisiane, which had been specifically founded to exploit French possesisons in Louisiana and Canada. It is for this reason that Canada has retrospectively claimed the 1670 issues as its first coins