Brabant 1478 2 briquet
The first specimen was lot 439 in Jean Elsen sale 158 (Brussels, March 2024), where it sold for €200 (about US$260 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"BRABANT, Duché, Marie de Bourgogne (1477-1482), AR double briquet, 1478, Anvers. Tour en fin de légende. D/ Deux lions assis et affrontés. Entre leurs t., un briquet. R/ Ecu de Bourgogne sur une croix feuillue et fleuronnée. Très Beau. (duchy of Brabant, Mary of Burgundy, 1477-82, silver double briquet of 1478, Antwerp mint. Obverse: two lions seating, facing each other, a firesteel between them; reverse: arms of Burgundy over a floriate cross. Very Fine.)"
The second specimen was lot 669 in Jean Elsen sale 159 (Brussels, June 2024), where it sold for €150 (about US$193 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"BRABANT, Duché, Marie de Bourgogne (1477-1482), AR double briquet, 1478, Anvers. Tour en fin de légende. D/ Deux lions assis et affrontés. Entre leurs t., un briquet. R/ Ecu de Bourgogne sur une croix feuillue et fleuronnée. Belle patine. Très Beau. (duchy of Brabant, Mary of Burgundy, 1477-82, silver double briquet of 1478, Antwerp mint, a tower at the end of the legend. Obverse: two lions seated, facing, a firesteel between them; reverse: the arms of Burgundy over a leafed and floriate cross. Nice patina, very fine.)"
Maria was the daughter of Charles the Rash and the heiress to his domain between France and Germany. She was duchess of Burgundy, Brabant, Limburg, Luxemburg and Guelders and countess of Flanders, Artois, Hainaut, Holland, Zeeland, Namur and Zutphen and the most desirable match of her day. Marie's marriage to Maximilian of Hapsburg brought Hapsburg rule to the Low Countries. This type was struck in large numbers 1477-81.
Reported Mintage: 1,896,240.
Specification: 3.06 g, 0.799 fie silver, 27 mm diameter, the first specimen 2,88 g, the second specimen is 2,84 g.
Catalog reference: G.H. 39-1b; W. 517; VH 55; Levinson II-32.
- Levinson, Robert, The Early Dated Coins of Europe, 1234-1500: An Illustrated Catalogue and Guide to dated medieval coinage. Clifton, NJ: Coin & Currency Institute, 2007.
- Roberts, James N., The Silver Coins of Medieval France (476-1610 AD), S. Salem, NY: Attic Books, 1996.
- 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 158, Monnaies de la Principauté de Liège, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2024.
- [2]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 159, Collection Harry Dewit, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2024.
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