Brabant 1564 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 represents a very early experiment with decimal coinage, over a century before Russia adopted her hundred kopeks = one ruble.
Reported Mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, 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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