Meanings
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1
noun
historical: any of several French gold or silver coins issued under kings named Louis, especially the louis d'or
The merchant paid for the silk with a purse of silver crowns and gold louis.
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2
noun
historical: a later French gold coin modeled on the royal louis and valued at twenty or twenty-four livres or francs
The account valued each louis according to its weight and date of issue.
Thesaurus
Etymology
Borrowed from French louis, from the royal name Louis. The coins were so called because French kings named Louis issued them and their portraits appeared on the obverse.