LOUIS XVIII July 8, 1815 - September 16, 1824 - Lot 276

LOUIS XVIII July 8, 1815 - September 16, 1824 LOUIS XVIII KING OF FRANCE. His bare head to the right. Below, MICHAUT F. R/. Crowned shield of France accosted by 40 - F, within a wreath of two laurel branches. Below, vintage. Edge debossed: (lily) DOMINE SALVUM FAC REGEM. No different and no workshop letter. ♦ Gad 1089; Maz 720; VG 2425 Essai 40 Francs or 1816 Concours de Michaut (13.08 g) Type adopted. Browned blank. Minimal traces of rubbing. A superb example. Auguste Francois Michaut was born in Paris on September 29, 1786 and died in Versailles on December 26, 1879. He was an engraver of French and Dutch coins, a medallist and a French sculptor. His father Jean, in partnership with his brother Jean Baptiste, was a foundryman and chiseler on rue du Temple. He entered the École des Beaux-arts de Paris around 1804. His first inclination was for sculpture. His first teachers were sculptors François-Frédéric Lemot and Jean-Guillaume Moitte. He was admitted to the Grand Prix de Rome in 1809. But ill health due to a chest ailment forced him to give up sculpture. He then turned to medal engraving. André Galle (known as "Galle l'aîné") taught him the basics. His engraver's signature is "Michaut F.", and his signature is a Roman lamp on an anchor.