Brabant 1609 1/2 real
This specimen was lot 890 in Jean Elsen sale 164 (Brussels, March 2026), where it sold for €460 (about US$641 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"BRABANT, Duché, Albert et Isabelle (1598-1621), AR demi-réal, 1609, Anvers. D/ Écu d'Autriche-Bourgogne couronné, posé sur une croix de Bourgogne, accosté de la date. R/ Briquet couronné, orné du bijou de la Toison d'or. Très rare. Belle patine. Très Beau. (duchy of Brabant, Albert and Isabella, 1598-1621, silver half real of 1609, Antwerp mint. Obverse: crowned arms of Austria-Burgundy over a Burgundian cross, dividing the date; reverse: crowned firesteel, decorated with the jewel of the Golden Fleece. Very rare, nice patina, Very Fine.)"
In addition to the half real shown here, which was struck 1606-09, quarter, one and three reales were also issued. Antwerp seems to have been the sole producer of the half real, although Maastricht and Bois-le-Duc struck one reals. One real was five sols and one patagon (struck after 1612) was 48 sols.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.48 g, 0.396 fine silver, 25 mm diameter; this specimen 3,39 g.
Catalog reference: KM 31, G.H. 294-1b; W. 910; VH 596.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- 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 164: Monnaies du duché de Brabant et du royaume de Belgique, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2026.
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