Today's highlight is an exciting klippe (square or lozenge shaped) coin struck by the French while inhabiting a city under siege. Aire-sur-la-Lys, found in the north of France,came under Spanish control through the Union of Arras in 1579 when it was incorporated into the Spanish Netherlands. During the Franco-Spanish War (1635-59) the Spanish-controlledcity was besieged by French troops under the command of Marshal Charles de la Porte Marquis de Meilleraye. To help pay his troops, the Spanish commander melted down his personalsilver (as well as silver requisitioned from the nearby church) to produce klippe coinage. Soon after, the French routed the Spanish and took control of the city. Showing greatdetermination, the Spanish attempted to reclaim the city and laid siege to its French occupants. It was at this point, during the second siege in 1641, that klippe coinage wasproduced in the name of King Louis XIII. This coinage extolled his "pius, just and invincible" virtues.

This coin, from the French occupation of the city, features a seven line inscription on a square planchet: "LVD XIII / REX PIVS / IVSTVS / INVICTVS / ARIAVNOAD / BIS OBSES /1641." The reverse is simply the incuse of the obverse design. A small incuse hallmark is found on the reverse which was present on the original silver. Pleasant old toningsaturates the surfaces of this historical treasure.