Restored to default cannot reinstall MacOS

Did you erase it yet?

Here's how to do it.

1. Shut down your Mac.
2. Turn on your Mac and immediately press and Command and R.
3. You may be prompted to select a user and log in with the password for that account.
4. From here, you'll be presented with a utilities window. Select Disk Utility.
5. Select Macintosh HD from the sidebar.
6. Click Erase and input a new name and format. For simplicity's sake, you can leave both to Macintosh HD and APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journaled).
7. Next, click Erase Volume group. If that isn't an option, click Erase.
8. If you have Find My enabled, you'll be prompted to deactivate it with your Apple ID and password.
9. You may want to delete any other internal volumes besides Macintosh HD. Just click the minus icon next to each volume.
10. Finally, quit Disk Utility

Now that your disk has been erased, you can select Reinstall macOS (Version Name) from the utilities window.

Once macOS finishes installing, you'll likely be faced with a setup assistant. It's at this point that you should shut down your Mac and leave the setup process to whomever is receiving it.

Mac OS Extended (Journaled is needed for Sierra, APFS won't work.

How to erase and prepare a Mac for gifting, recycling, or selling | AppleInsider