$1 Fine Gold Coin – Louis d'or aux deux L (2008)

During the 17th and 18th centuries, French coins were a cornerstone of commerce in New France. Many were lost in the voyage across the Atlantic, only to become the coveted prize of treasure hunters centuries later. Such was the case with the 1723 Louis d'or Mirliton and the 1726 Louis d'or aux lunettes.

The Louis d'or aux deux L, issued between 1720 and 1723, is one gold coin believed to have safely crossed the ocean. Historians believe the 1721 issue circulated in the colony, citing as evidence a letter dated July 1, 1721 concerning a shipment of new gold coins to Philippe de Rigaud de Vaudreuil, then Governor General of New France.

No archaeological evidence to support this claim has ever been uncovered and the true fate of the 1721 Louis d'or on this side of the Atlantic remains as captivating as its successors that were claimed by the sea - an elusive treasure waiting to be discovered. As the final issue in this series of rare coin reproductions, it's an intriguing must-have!