Brabant 1577(s) 1/2 states daalder
This specimen was lot 536 in Jean Elsen sale 158 (Brussels, March 2024), where it sold for €850 (about US$1,105 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"BRABANT, Duché, Les Etats en révolte (1577-1581), AR demi-écu des Etats, 1577, Maastricht. D/ Le roi à mi-corps de f., couronné et cuirassé, ten. un sceptre fleurdelisé et devant lui l'écu d'Autriche-Bourgogne. R/ Croix formée des lettres P/H/S couronnées, accostée de 16-S et cantonnée de quatre fleurons. Extrêmement rare. Trace d'emporte-pièce sur la tranche. Très Beau. (duchy of Brabant, States Revolt, 1577-81, silver half States daalder of 1577, Maastricht mint. Obverse: crowned and armored half-length bust of the king, bearing a large scepter and the arms of Austria-Burgundy; reverse: cross formed of four crowned monograms divides the value, cantonned with four florettes. Extremely rare, trace of a mount on the edge, Very Fine.)"
Brabant, originally part of the Burgundian inheritance, fell to the Hapsburgs on the death of the last duke of Burgundy in 1477. On the emperor Charles's abdication in 1555, the Hapsburg inheritance was divided between the Austrian and Spanish branches, and the Netherlands passed to Philip II, a dour and unbending Catholic. His attempts to extirpate heresy caused the northern provinces to rise in revolt and, after many years of struggle, secure their independence as the United Provinces. The southern provinces, including Brabant, remained Catholic and eventually returned to king Philip's rule. However, they joined the northern provinces in revolt 1578-80 and issued this demi-écu des Etats in the process. The Spanish Hapsburgs ruled Brabant until 1700, fending off repeated attempts by the king of France to annex it. The province is now part of Belgium.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver; this specimen 12,89 g.
Catalog reference: G.H. 246-2; Delm-119; W. 769; VH 375.
- 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.
Link to:
- 1576 vingtième d'écu Philippe, Antwerp mint
- 1576 cinquième d'écu Philippe, Antwerp mint
- 1576 écu Philippe, bust left, Brussels mint
- (1576-77)-B demi-réal d'or, Brussels mint
- 1577 patard, States' Revolt, Maastricht mint
- Flanders 1577 kwart Statendaalder
- 1577 quart d'écu des Etats, Brussels mint
- Flanders 1577 1/2 states daalder
- Hainaut 1577 1/2 states daalder
- 1577 demi-écu des Etats, Brussels mint
- 1577 écu Philippe, Antwerp mint
- (1578-80) gigot, Antwerp mint
- (1578-80) liard des Etats, Antwerp mint
- 1578 quart d'écu des Etats, Maastricht mint
- Flanders 1578 states daalder Dav-8649
- Gelderland 1578 states daalder Dav-8498
- Overijssel 1578 states daalder Dav-8519
- 1578 écu des Etats, Antwerp mint
- 1578 écu des Etats, Maastricht mint
- Coins and currency dated 1577