Brabant 1505 real
This specimen was lot 1467 in Jean Elsen sale 145 (Brussels, September 2020), where it sold for €800 (about US$1,140 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"BRABANT, Duché, Philippe le Beau (1482-1506), AR réal d'Espagne, 1505, Anvers. D/ Ecu couronné d'Espagne-Autriche-Bourgogne. R/ Croix de Bourgogne cantonnée des écus de Castille, Léon et Grenade et du bijou de la Toison d'or. Très rare Griffe dans l'écu et petit coup sur la tranche. Très Beau. Après la mort d'Isabelle de Castille, le 26 novembre 1504, Philippe le Beau et Jeanne d'Espagne devinrent rois de Castille. En 1505, Philippe fit frapper des réaux d'Espagne à Anvers et à Bruges destinés à financer le voyage en Espagne. Ils y furent pratiquement tous refondus. Philippe mourut le 25 septembre 1506. (duchy of Brabant, Philip the Fair, 1482-1506, silver Spanish real of 1505, Antwerp mint. Obverse: crowned arms of Spain, Austria and Burgudny; reverse: Burgundian cross cantonned with the arms of Castile, Leon and Granada and the jewels of the Golden Fleece. Very rare, scratch on the shield and small edge nick. Very Fine. After the death of Isabella of Castile on November 26, 1504, Philip the Fair and Joan of Spain became nominal rulers of Castile. In 1505, Philip had Spanish reales struck in Antwerp and Bruges intended to finance the trip to Spain. They were practically all remelted there. Philip died on September 25, 1506.)"
Philip intended to seize the throne of Spain from Ferdinand the Catholic but underestimated the wily Aragonese. Philip toured the country but failed to win much support and his attempted coup never came off. His early death in 1506 sent Joanna into madness and their son Charles became king. Ferdinand's death in 1516 allowed a peaceful transfer of power to Charles, who also was Holy Roman Emperor.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 3,31 g.
Catalog reference: G.H. 165-1; W. 627; V.H. 197.
- 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 145, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2020.
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