Brabant (15)64(h) 1/5 ecu
This specimen was lot 448 in Jean Elsen sale 138 (Brussels, September 2018), where it sold for €170 (about US$236 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"BRABANT, Duché, Philippe II (1555-1598), AR cinquième d'écu Philippe, 1564, Anvers. D/ B. cuir. à d. R/ Ecu couronné sur une croix de Bourgogne, entre deux briquets, portant le bijou de la Toison d'or. Fines griffes. Belle patine. Très Beau. (duchy of Brabant, Philip II, 1555-98, silver fifth écu Philippe of 1564, Antwerp mint. Obverse: armored bust to left; reverse: crowned arms over a Burgundian cross, between two jewels of the Order of the Golden Fleece. Fine scratches, nice patina, very fine.)"
This type was struck 1562-67, 1571-72, 1575-77, 1580-82 at Antwerp (shown here) and Maastricht. Mintage was disrupted more than once by the Dutch Revolt. In 1563, Antwerp moved its hand mintmark from the reverse to the obverse; in 1567, Maastricht followed suit with its star mintmark. The écu Philippe was divided into half, fifth, tenth and twentieth écus, in what is likely the world's first attempt at decimal coinage.
Reported Mintage: unknown.
Specification: 6.85 g, 0.833 fine silver, plain edge, 30 mm diameter, this specimen 6,84 g.
Catalog reference: G.H., 212-1b; W., 722.
- 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 138, Collection A. BLONDEL, Collection M. HENDRICKX, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils, S.A., 2018.
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