(1880-1898) Bronze Medal Betts-76, Louis XIV Felicitas

Coin Details

Description

This bronze restrike of the Louis XIV Felicitas medal (Betts-76) was produced at the Paris Mint during the 1880-98 restrike period. The original 1693 medal celebrates the reign of Louis XIV with imagery relating to French colonial prosperity in the Americas. The Felicitas (Happiness/Good Fortune) theme was a common motif in the Sun King's extensive medal program, which served as a primary instrument of royal propaganda. Louis XIV's medal cabinet was the most ambitious in European history, with hundreds of designs commissioned to commemorate every aspect of his reign including colonial ventures in Canada, Louisiana, and the Caribbean. Betts-76 is one of several Felicitas variants (see also Betts-75 and its sub-variants) that documented French colonial achievements under the most powerful monarch in French history.

Rarity Notes

Paris Mint bronze restrike, 1880-98 period. Louis XIV Felicitas series. Scarce.

Cross References

Betts-76; Louis XIV Felicitas; French colonial medals 1693