Description
Windward Islands; Isles du Vent – 1731 H; Louis XV of France. KM’s max condition listing of this and the more common 12 Sols is XF. This very scarce coin is NGC MS 63 Uncirculated and in hand is much better than the photo. The coin retains all of its original luster.
These islands make up the southern chain of the Lesser Antilles. Visted by Columbus in 1493 and again in 1502, they were occupied by France for strategic reasons in 1635. After being lost to Great Britain, then regained, they were lost again following the Napoleonic Wars. This photo was taken before I had it encapsulted. Looking up Isles du Vent or Windward Isles on-line will probably bring up pages to the island group in French Polynesia. Apparently the island chain for this coin is not nearly as popular for tourist and wind surfers. Coin group of islands is in the eastern Caribbean Sea that constitute the southern part of the Lesser Antilles. They include Martinique, Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada. Their name refers to their position further upwind, in terms of the prevailing southeastern winds , than the Leeward Islands. For some reason the slab has the name as “Isle De Vent” which may be an the English spelling for the French version of the Windward Islands. Only one other (VG) has been graded by NGC. This coin was sold at a Heritage Auction (3 Jan 2012, NYC) for $1600 before fees.
EXTREMELY RARE FIND
OB: LUD XV D G FR ET NAV REX (w/ H under portrait)
rx: ISLES DU VENT – 1731