Artois 1626 1/4 patagon
This specimen was lot 1361 in Jean Elsen sale 162 (Brussels, June 2025), where it sold for €500 (about US$693 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ARTOIS, Comté, Philippe IV (1621-1640), AR quart de patagon, 1626, Arras. D/ Croix de Bourgogne sous une couronne, portant le bijou de la Toison d'or. R/ Ecu couronné, entouré du collier de la Toison d'or. Très rare. (county of Artois, Philip IV, 1621-65, silver quarter patagon of 1626, Arras mint. Obverse: Burgundian cross under a crown, supporting the jewel of the Golden Fleece; reverse: crowned arms, order chain around. Very rare, very fine.)"
One patagon was 48 sols, stuivers or patards. It was roughly equal to a leeuvendaalder but had about 18% more silver. Patagons are notoriously badly struck. This rare type was struck 1624-26 and 1634-35. Artois was occupied by the French in 1640 and ceded to them in 1659 and the mint was briefly used to strike French coins.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 7.02 g, 0.875 fine silver, this specimen 6,92 g.
Catalog reference: KM 5, G.H. 331-7; Dewismes 247; Delm. 314; VH 647.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- van Gelder, H. Enno, and Marcel Hoc, Les Monnaies des pays-Bas Bourguignons et Espagnols, 1434-1713, Amsterdam, J. Schulman, 1960, with supplement of 1964.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 162: Collection Jacques Druart, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2025.
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