Batenburg (1612-19) 4 stuiver
This specimen was lot 1487 in Jean Elsen sale 161 (Brussels, March 2025), where it sold for €260 (about US$339 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"NEDERLAND, BATENBURG, Maximiliaan van Bronckhorst (1612-1641), AR arendschelling (4 stuiver), z.j. Met titel van Matthias I (1612-1619). Vz/ MONETA NOVA ARG BAT IV ST Gekroond wapenschild. Kz/ Gekroonde dubbele adelaar met rijksappel. Zeldzaam. Gereinigd. (Netherlands, county of Batenburg, Maximilian of Bronckhorst, 1612-41, undated silver eagle shilling or four stuiver, struck in the name of the emperor Mathias, 1612-19. Obverse: crowned arms; reverse: crowned double headed eagle with orb. Rare, cleaned, Very Fine - Extremely Fine.)"
This arendschilling was struck in two styles; KM 6, shown here, and KM 7, with the value "IV" stamped in the orb on the eagle's breast. Both are rare and rarer in collectible condition. The lords of Bronkhorst were barons of Batenburg in Gelderland and from there began issuing daalders in the 1550's. Two dozen types are noted in Davenport (not including minors) before minting ceased about 1579. Wikipedia comments,
Maximiliaan van Bronckhorst-Batenburg-Steyn graaf van Bronckhorst, heer van Batenburg en Steyn (vanaf 1602), West-Barendrecht, Bicht, Moerkerken en Meeswijck (geb. na 1561 - Batenburg, 30 juni 1641) was de zoon van Karel van Bronkhorst-Batenburg en Alverade van Vlodrop. Hij volgde in 1602 zijn neef Herman Dirk van Bronckhorst-Batenburg, de enige zoon van zijn oom Willem van Bronkhorst-Batenburg, op als heer van Stein. Hij verzoende zich met koning Filips II van Spanje de heer der Nederlanden, en werd daarom in 1582 tot vijand der republiek verklaard. Batenburg sloeg in de Middeleeuwen en aan het begin van de 17e eeuw zijn eigen munten, die echter vanwege hun slechte kwaliteit geen goede reputatie hadden. Maximiliaen van Bronckhorst-Batenburg-Steyn was de laatste heer met zijn eigen munt. Maiximiliaan trouwde (1) in januari 1595 met Johanna van Ketteler, vrouwe van Frechen en Vogstbel ook genaamd Agnes van Kettler-Nesselradt, (overleden voor 1636) de dochter van Johan van Kettler-Nesselradt heer van Mellrich, Ambothen, Nesselrode, Eggeringhausen en Essern (overleden 9 oktober 1586) en Agnes Schenck van Nydeggen (overleden in 1602).
(Maximiliaan van Bronckhorst-Batenburg-Steyn, Count of Bronckhorst, Lord of Batenburg and Steyn (from 1602), West-Barendrecht, Bicht, Moerkerken and Meeswijck (born after 1561, died Batenburg, 30 June 1641) was the son of Karel van Bronkhorst-Batenburg and Alverade van Vlodrop. In 1602 he succeeded his cousin Herman Dirk van Bronckhorst-Batenburg, the only son of his uncle Willem van Bronkhorst-Batenburg, as Lord of Stein. He reconciled with King Philip II of Spain, the Lord of the Netherlands, and was therefore declared an enemy of the Republic in 1582. Batenburg minted its own coins in the Middle Ages and at the beginning of the 17th century, which, however, did not have a good reputation due to their poor quality. Maximiliaen van Bronckhorst-Batenburg-Steyn was the last lord to strike his own coin. Maximiliaan married (1) in January 1595 to Johanna van Ketteler, lady of Frechen and Vogstbel also called Agnes van Kettler-Nesselradt, (died before 1636) the daughter of Johan van Kettler-Nesselradt lord of Mellrich, Ambothen, Nesselrode, Eggeringhausen and Essern (died 9 October 1586) and Agnes Schenck van Nydeggen (died in 1602).)"
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 4.3 g, silver, this specimen 3,98 g.
Catalog reference: KM 6, Verk. 225, 3; CNM 2.05.88.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- van der Wis, Jan, and Tom Passon, Catalogus van de Nederlandse Munten geslagen sind bet aantreden van Philips II tot aan het einde van de Bataafse Republiek (1555-1806), 2nd ed., Apeldoorn, Netherlands: Omni-Trading b.v., 2009.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 161, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2025.
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