1762-BB Sou Marque, French Colonies, KM # 500.1, PCGS MS62, CAC. In its population report, PCGS shows 5 1762-BB sou marque coins in MS62 condition with 3 better. CAC Population: 4/2 as of 7/07/2015.

This Mint State French Colonies 1762-BB sou marque is made from billon metal. The coin is light and dark gray with hints of yellow. Clearly original, the fields are clean with no notable abrasion marks or other distractions. The piece has an above average strike with full details on the left and right fleur-de-lis and both crowns. The obverse dentils and legends on both sides are full and strong. The CAC sticker indicates that the coin is a premium quality piece that fully deserves the grade assigned.  

The coin depicts a crowned L with three fleur-de-lis. The obverse legend is LUD.XV.D.G.FR.ET.NAV.REX, for Louis XV. The reverse shows a crowned floral double L monogram. The date, 1762, is above the crown. The reverse legend is SIT NOM.DOM.H BENEDICTUM. The BB mintmark on the reverse is for Strasbourg.

Louis XV of France was known as Louis the Well Beloved. He was the monarch of the House of Bourbon who ruled as King of France from 1715 until his death in 1774. During his reign his government returned the Austrian Netherlands, won the Battle of Fontenoy of 1745, and ceded most of New France to Great Britian at the end of the Seven Years War in 1763. Some scholars believe that his decisions damaged the power of France, discredited the monarchy, and contributed to the French Revolution, which began 15 years after his death.