Brabant 1580(h) 1/2 ecu
This specimen was lot 544 in Jean Elsen sale 158 (Brussels, March 2024), where it sold for €260 (about US$338 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"BRABANT, Duché, Les Etats en révolte (1577-1581), AR demi-écu Philippe, 1580, Anvers. D/ B. cuir. à g. R/ Ecu couronné sur une croix de Bourgogne, entre deux briquets, portant le bijou de la Toison d'or. Très rare. Nettoyé. Double frappe au droit. Petites craquelures du flan. Très Beau. (duchy of Brabant, States Revolt, 1577-81, silver half écu Philippe of 1580, Antwerp mint. Obverse: armored bust left; reverse: crowned arms over a Burgundian cross between two firesteels supporting the jewels of the Golden Fleece. Very rare, cleaned, double struck on the obverse, minor planchet cracks, very Fine.)"
The écu des Etats of 1577-80 were deliberately given a face value over their bullion value in order to raise money for the war effort against the Spanish. They were rejected and the States were forced to resume production of the familiar écu Philippe and its fractions in 1580-81. This demi-écu Philippe is known from Antwerp and Maastricht.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver; this specimen 16,89 g.
Catalog reference: G.H. 211-1a; Delm-51; W. 789.
- 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:
- 1578 écu des Etats, Maastricht mint
- Maastricht (1579) sol siege coinage, first series
- Maastricht (1579) 2 sols siege coinage, first series
- Maastricht (1579) 12 sols siege coinage, second series
- Maastricht (1579) 16 sols siege coinage, third series
- Maastricht (1579) 24 sols siege coinage, second series
- Maastricht (1579) 40 sols siege coinage, third series
- 1579 écu des Etats, Antwerp mint
- Brussels 1580 18 sols siege coinage
- Brussels 1580 36 sols siege coinage
- 1580 cinquième d'écu Philippe, Antwerp mint
- 1580 demi-écu Philippe, Maastricht mint
- 1580 écu Philippe, Antwerp mint
- 1580 couronne d'or, States Revolt
- 1582 demi-écu, François d'Alençon
- 1584 demi-écu Robustus, Antwerp mint
- Coins and currency dated 1580