Brabant 1562(h) 1/2 ecu
This specimen was lot 756 in Jean Elsen sale 149 (Brussels, December 2021), where it sold for €900 (about US$1,219 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"BRABANT, Duché, Philippe II (1555-1598), AR demi-écu Philippe, 1562, Anvers. D/ B. cuir. à g. La légende débutant à 7h. R/ Ecu couronné sur une croix de Bourgogne, entre deux briquets, portant le bijou de la Toison d'or. Rare Exemplaire bien frappé sur un flan régulier. Très Beau. Provient de notre vente 110, 10 septembre 2011, 870. (duchy of Brabant, Philip II, 1555-98, silver half écu Philippe of 1562, Antwerp mint. Obverse: armored bust left, with the legend starting at 7 o'clock; reverse: crowned arms over a Burgundian cross between two briquets bearing the jewels of the Golden Fleece. Rare, well struck on a round flan, Very Fine.)"
This type represents a very early experiment with decimal coinage, over a century before Russia adopted her hundred kopeks = one ruble. The Dutch speaking provinces called this a halve Filipsdaalder. This may be the first year of issue.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 16,95 g.
Catalog reference: G.H. 211-1a; Delm-51; W. 719; V.H. 267.
- Delmonte, A., Le Bénélux D'or, Amsterdam: Jacques Schulman N.V., 1964, with supplements to 1977.
- 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 149: Monnaies, Médailles et Décorations, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2021.
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