Laureate head of Louis XIV wearing a short lock of hair, right, date below., Cross formed by four groups of two crowned and leaning L's, cantoned with four fleurs-de-lis, mint letter in a circular cartouche in heart., This Louis d'or is also known as the Louis d'or aux huit L, portrait à la mèche courte. This is a rare type struck in only two mints between 1643 and 1652. The Lyon mint struck this type as early as 1644, and Paris for only four years, between 1643 and 1646. Only in 1647 was there no Louis d'or of this type struck. Our example has been bent, creating a shallow crack in the hairline of Louis XIV. There is also a blow in the field at 9 o'clock, and abrasion on the king's curls and some of the letters in the legend. A significant blow is visible on the edge at 11 o'clock. The reverse is in a very good state of preservation, with details of the crown and fleurs-de-lis still perfectly visible.Our example is extremely rare, as it was struck in the first semester. In fact, for this type produced in Lyon as early as 1644, a star is added after IMP in the legend to indicate the second semester. Our example does not have this star and is therefore unique!