At the end of the seventeenth century, France established itself as a major economic power of the western world. The God of Commerce, Mercury (gilt in silver), and Justice (gilt in gold) on the medal’s reverse personify France’s expanding enterprise under Louis XIV. As one of the 286 designs in Louis XIV’s uniform series, this unusual and exquisitely gilt medal was likely a special gift for a distinguished guest or a close member of the court. Such examples of Louis XIV medals that contain both gold and silver gilding are exceedingly rare.
Translation from the Medailles sur les principaux evenements du regne entier de Louis le Grand, pg. 246:
The Chamber of Commerce, 1700:
Immediately after the peace, the king particularly endeavored to increase abundance in his states. He had recognized in the last war that the French were very fit for the sea, and that they knew as much, or more than the other nations, how to endure their travails. Besides, he saw that the care he had taken to establish Commerce had fulfilled his expectation, so he thought of expanding it even more. His Majesty made new Companies for Santo Domingo and for Canada, and lent his vessels who traded in the East Indies and China to this effort. These establishments having been as successful as one could have wished, he chose six Commissioners from his Council to examine all the affairs of the Trading and to settle them. And so that these Commissioners always had all the information they needed, the twelve most profitable cities of the kingdom, each by order of the king, appointed one of their most successful merchants, to give their input on any questions that might arise.
This is the subject of this medal. We see the Justice, and near her Mercury, the God of Commerce, who with one hand holds his Caduceus, and, the other a purse. The words of the Legend, SEXVIRI COMMERCIIS REGUNDIS, signify, “established commissioners oversee commerce.” The exergue records the date 1700.
Object Description
268 LOUIS XIV, Chamber of Commerce (1700)
Obv. Head to right. Around, LUDOVICUS MAGNUS REX CHRISTIANISSIMUS . ; below, I . MAVGER . F
Rev. Justice and Mercury. Around, SEXVIRI COMMERCIIS REGUNDIS . ; in exergue, M . DCC .
Bronze, partly gilt and silvered, struck, 41 mm.
From the first Uniform Series.
Bibl.: Medailles Francaises, no. 350, p. 158; Louis XIV, p. 283.