Austrian Netherlands 1762(a) kronenthaler Dav-1283
This specimen was lot 1445 in Jean Elsen sale 154 (Brussels, March 2023), where it sold for €150 (about US$194 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"BRABANT, Duché, François Ier (1745-1765), AR couronne, 1762, Bruxelles. D/ Aigle impériale couronnée, entourée du collier de la Toison d'or. R/ Croix de Bourgogne entre trois couronnes, ornée du bijou de la Toison d'or. Taches d'oxydation. Très Beau à Superbe. Dans le Trouvaille de Labuissière. (duchy of Brabant, Francis I, 1745-65, silver crown of 1762, Brussels mint. Obverse: crowned imperial eagle, Order of the Golden Fleece around; reverse: Burgundian cross between three crowns, decorated with the jewels of the Golden Fleece. Stains from corrosion, Very Fine - Extremely Fine.)"
Belgium, long a part of Hapsburg Spain, was awarded to Charles VI of Austria by the Treaty of Utrecht which ended the War of the Spanish Succession. Fortified by the Dutch and constantly menaced by the French, the Austrians quickly discovered Belgium to be a worthless addition to their domain. This type was struck in 1755-79 during the reign of Maria Theresia (Dav-1282) and Francis I (Dav-1283, shown here). It replaced the ducaton in 1755 but retained many stylistic features. The Austrians lost Belgium to Revolutionary France in 1797. After the fall of Napoleon in 1815, Belgium passed to the king of the Netherlands.
Recorded mintage: 165,000 (including Dav-1282).
Specification: 29.44 g, 0.873 fine silver, this specimen 29,42 g.
Catalog reference: KM 22, Dav-1283, W. 1139; Delm-384; V.H. 830.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1700-1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 154, Trouvaille de Labuissière, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2023.
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