Philippe VI, 1341

Duplessy 255; Friedberg 273, PCGS graded AU-58

Philip VI struck a larger gold denomination known as the ange d’or (“gold angel”) alongside his St. George florin. Continuing the theme of saintly defnders of the florin, the ange d’or depicts the Archangel Michel holding the shield of France while spearing a dragon at his feet with a cruciform scepter. The type refers to St. Michael’s defeat of Satan at the End Times as foretold in the Book of Revelation (12:7-9). However, the Gothic baldachin above, the addition of the crown to the Archangel’s head, and the presence of the French arms, invites comparison between St. Michael as defender against evil and Philip VI as defender of France against the English devil, Edward III.

27 January 1341. PhILPPVS D GRA FRAC REX, the Archangel Michael standing facing atop defeated dragon, holding long cross and arms; all within polylobe; Gothic arch above / + XPC VI?CIT XPC REG?AT XPC IMPERAT, ornate cross fleurée within quadrilobe; crown in each spandrel.

Purchased privately from Goldberg, 1 January 2007