Brabant (15)65(h) 1/5 ecu

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Jean Elsen sale 164, lot 823
JE164-0823r.jpg

This specimen was lot 823 in Jean Elsen sale 164 (Brussels, March 2026), where it sold for €260 (about US$362 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,

"BRABANT, Duché, Philippe II (1555-1598), AR cinquième d'écu Philippe, 1565, Anvers. D/ B. cuir. à d. R/ Écu couronné sur une croix de Bourgogne, entre deux briquets, portant le bijou de la Toison d'or. Flan large. Très Beau à Superbe. (duchy of Brabant, Philip II, 1555-98, silver fifth écu Philippe of 1565, Antwerp mint. Obverse: armored bust left; reverse: crowned arms over a Burgundian cross between two firesteels supporting the jewels of the Golden Fleece. Large flan, Very Fine - Extremely 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. We also have examples from Gelderland and Bruges.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 6.85 g, 0.833 fine silver, plain edge, 30 mm diameter; this specimen 6,78 g.

Catalog reference: G.H. 212-1b; W. 722; VH 271.

Source:

  • 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 164: Monnaies du duché de Brabant et du royaume de Belgique, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2026.

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