Tag Archives: french revolution

This February marks our inaugural Monies, Medals & Militaria auction. We recently welcomed Sally Oliver to our team as our in-house numismatics specialist who has curated a fantastic selection of items for her first stand-alone sale. Included among these items is a coin minted with the profile of the King of France, Louis XVIII. However, it was minted in England rather than in France. As such, it provides an interesting insight into the French king’s history and relationship with his home country. Louis XVIII and the House of Bourbon Louis XVIII, born Louis Stanislas Xavier, was a member of the House of Bourbon. He ruled as King of France from 1814 to 1824. He was the brother of the executed King Louis XVI and became king shortly after the fall of Napoleon Bonaparte. Louis XVIII’s reign marked the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy after the years of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic era. The House of Bourbon was one of the most important European royal families, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. The Bourbon dynasty played an undeniably significant role in European history, with members often marrying into other royal families in order to cement alliances and expand their influence. Louis XVIII’s reign was marked by his efforts to reconcile France after the upheaval of the revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. He attempted to balance the interests of the old aristocracy with the new political realities of a post-revolutionary France. However, his reign was challenged by political unrest and opposition from both traditional royalists and revolutionaries. Despite his efforts at compromise, Louis XVIII’s reign was continually unstable. It saw several uprisings and attempts to overthrow him. He died in 1824 and was succeeded by his brother, Charles X. However, Charles X’s reign was short-lived, as he was overthrown during the July Revolution of 1830, leading to the end of Bourbon rule in France. Exile: Louis XVIII in London During the height of the French Revolution, Louis XVIII was exiled for some time. Following the execution of his brother, King Louis XVI, during the French Revolution, Louis XVIII fled France along with other members of the royal family. He spent much of his exile in various European countries, including Prussia, Russia, and England. In particular, Louis XVIII spent a significant portion of his exile in London, where he lived from 1807 to 1814. During his time in London, he had relative obscurity when compared to his royal status. As the Bourbon dynasty had been deposed, and Napoleon Bonaparte ruled France as Emperor. Louis XVIII maintained contacts with French émigrés and royalist sympathisers while in London, and continued to assert his claim to the French throne. Louis XVIII’s exile in London came to an end in 1814 when Napoleon Bonaparte was defeated and he was forced to abdicate. Minted in London Our upcoming Monies, Medals & Militaria auction will feature a coin minted in London during Louis XVIII’s time in exile. It was minted without the knowledge or approval of the French government. At this time, Britain was in support of monarchies as opposed to republics. The French Revolution threatened a republic so close to home to the British. Because of this, they were keen to keep the French king safe and showed support for him by minting these coins when France wouldn’t. Lot 151 France, Kingdom. Louis XVIII AV 20 Francs. London mint. Price Realised: £273.00 Monies, Medals & Militaria | Thursday 29th February 2024 Viewing times (ID required): London 20 February 2024 10.00-16.00 21 February 2024 10.00-16.00 Birmingham 28 February 2024 10:00-16:00 Virtual viewings are available by request. Virtual viewings are the ultimate personal shopping experience. Using Zoom, you can ask us whatever you need to know in order to buy with confidence. Find out more here. Valuations Our valuations are free, with no obligation to sell with us. Our experts will value your item with an estimate, so you can find out what it could achieve at auction. The process is simple. You can fill in a form online or book an appointment to visit either of our offices in Birmingham or London. Virtual valuation appointments are also available. Find what you’re looking for Make sure you don’t miss finding that special something by signing up to our email alerts. You’ll be the first to know when catalogues become available, receive invitations to special events and preview the hottest lots from our auctions, plus much more. Why not use our free personal shopping service? Sign up for lot alerts and tell us exactly what you are looking for. Each time we upload a catalogue, we search for your keywords and email you lots matching your interests. Your personalised email will include images, lot descriptions and auction details. Cordelia Porter | Research Coordinator