Brabant (1337-55) esterlin
This specimen was lot 699 in Jean Elsen sale 164 (Brussels, March 2026), where it sold for €130 (about US$181 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"BRABANT, Duché, Jean III (1312-1355), AR esterlin au châtel, après 1337 (?), Maastricht. D/ + MONETAx TRAIECTEN Châtel dans un quadrilobe, avec trois lis sur les tours. En dessous, un annelet. R/ SIG-NVM- CRV-CIS Croix longue et pattée, cantonnée d'un groupe de trois globules et de trois groupes de trois annelets. Rare. Beau à Très Beau. (duchy of Brabant, John III, 1312-55, silver esterlin of the castle, after 1337, Maastricht mint. Obverse: castle within a quadrilobe with three lilies over the towers, an annulet below; reverse: long cross pattée cantonned with two groups of three pellets and two groups of three rings. Rare, Fine - Very Fine.)"
Jean III succeeded to the duchies of Brabant and Limburg in 1312, when he was twelve years old. Altho neighboring Flanders was economically tied to Brabant, it was ruled by a separate dynasty. Jean's line fell extinct in 1406 and the duchy became a Valois appanage. Numista states an esterlin was one-third of a gros.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 1.2 g, billon, 17 mm diameter; this specimen 1,23 g.
Catalog reference: Ghyssens p. 13, 11; W. 339.
- Roberts, James N., The Silver Coins of Medieval France (476-1610 AD), S. Salem, NY: Attic Books, 1996.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 164: Monnaies du duché de Brabant et du royaume de Belgique, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2026.
Link to:
- (1329-37) esterlin à l'écu, Jean III, Brussels mint
- (1337) gros au châtel brabançon, Jean III
- Brabant (1338) 1/2 gros au type anglais, Jean III, Antwerp mint
- (1339) esterlin au lion
- (1339) gros au lion, Jean III
- (1343) demi-gros en billon noir, Jean III
- Brabant (1344) gros au quadrilobe, Jean III
- (1355-83) mite, Jeanne and Wenceslas
- Coins and currency dated 1339