KINGDOM OF FRANCE
REIGN OF LOUIS XII ("THE FATHER OF THE PEOPLE") (1498-1515)
HOUSE OF ORLEANS & ANGOULEME (HOUSE OF VALOIS)
CERTIFIED BY NGC AU 55
OBV: CROWNED ARMS FLANKED BY 2 PORCUPINES
REV: FLORIATED CROSS, 2 "L"'s. & 2 PORCUPINES
LOUIS XII ASCENDED THE THRONE UNEXPECTEDLY, BEING SENIOR HEIR MALE FROM A CADET BRANCH OF THE ROYAL FAMILY
ONCE KING, HE REFORMED THE LEGAL SYSTEM, MANAGED HIS NOBLES, LOWERED TAXATION AND IMPROVED THE STABILITY OF FRENCH GOVERNMENT
AT FIRST SUCCESSFUL IN WAR, HIS AMBITIONS IN ITALY WERE CURTAILED BY POPE JULIUS II AND THE HOLY LEAGUE
LOUIS WAS ALSO UNLUCKY AT PRODUCING AN HEIR, AND AFTER THREE MARRIAGES (INCLUDING HIS LAST, TO MARY TUDOR, THE SISTER OF HENRY VIII OF ENGLAND) HE HAD NO SURVIVING SONS TO INHERIT
HIS THRONE WENT TO THE SON OF HIS COUSIN, FRANCOIS I
4.1 GRAMS OF GOLD
27 MM IN DIAMETER
