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Sol tampé refrappe 2 sols small c variant - Louis XV
| Issuer | French West Indies |
|---|---|
| Year | 1763-1774 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 1 Sol (1/20) |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
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| Technique | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | The obverse displays the legends of the underlying host coin (a 2 sols of Louis XV) partially visible around the periphery, reading LUD XV D G FR ET NAV REX. Prominently applied at center is a crowned royal cipher counterstamp featuring the letter 'C' beneath a small crown, punched into the field as the tampé (counterstamp) authorizing the coin's revalued circulation in the French West Indies. The counterstamp is applied in intaglio relief and appears slightly off-center, as is typical of hand-applied colonial countermarks. The surrounding field retains traces of the original coin's design and lettering. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | The reverse of the host coin displays a crowned interlaced royal monogram of Louis XV at center, composed of two intertwined 'L' cyphers beneath a royal crown, rendered in a decorative foliate style. The peripheral legend reads * SIT * NOM * DOM * E * BENEDICTUM (meaning 'Blessed be the name of the Lord'), with the date 1739 incorporated into the legend at the top. A mint mark appears at the bottom of the reverse in the exergue area. The overall design follows the standard type for French 2 sols billon coinage of the period. |
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| Additional information |
The "sol tampé" — literally a stamped sol — describes colonial French coinage that was countermarked in the Americas to authorize continued circulation, a measure taken because metropolitan France consistently failed to supply its Caribbean colonies with adequate small change. This particular variant, distinguished by a small "c" countermark, was applied under royal authorization to existing billon sols during the reign of Louis XV, effectively re-monetizing worn or suspicious pieces rather than replacing them outright.
Lec#276 distinguishes this from the more common large-C variant. The small-c punch is considerably scarcer in well-defined strikes.