Geschiedenis van het Franse muntgeld c. 1865 - 1870

This print titled "History of French Coinage" was created by Allain et Cie. de Torbéchet. It presents a visual compendium of gold coins issued during the reign of Louis XIV, from 1643 to 1715. As a visual record, it reflects the institutional power of the monarchy and its control over economic representation. The portrait of Louis XIV at the center signifies his dominant role in French society. The arrangement of coins, each bearing his image or symbols of his reign, highlights how money becomes a tool for political and personal branding. The very act of cataloging and displaying these coins speaks to a growing interest in numismatics and history. To understand this image fully, one could delve into the archives of the French mint, explore period economic policies, and study the iconography of royal power. This allows us to see the print not just as a collection of coins, but as a mirror reflecting the social and political landscape of its time.