Brabant 1654(a) souverain d'or Fr-108
This specimen was lot 664 in Jean Elsen sale 161 (Brussels, March 2025), where it sold for €1,600 (about US$2,083 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"BRABANT, Duché, Philippe IV (1621-1665), AV souverain (lion d'or), 1654, Bruxelles. D/ Lion couronné deb. à g., brandissant une épée, la patte posée sur un globe placé sur un socle. R/ Écu couronné, entouré du collier de la Toison d'or. Fines griffes. (duchy of Brabant, Philip IV, 1621-65, gold souverain of 1654, Brussels mint. Obverse: crowned lion left, brandishing a sword, one paw atop a globe; reverse: crowned arms, order of the Golden Fleece around. Fine scratches, Very Fine - Extremely Fine.)"
This type was struck 1648-65. The Brussels mint mark was an angel face, while Antwerp used a hand. Similar souverain d'or are recorded from Tournai and Flanders (Fr-227).
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 5.54 g, 0.919 fine gold, 30 mm diameter, this specimen is 5,52 g.
Catalog reference: Fr-108 (listed under Belgium), KM-77.2, G.H. 325-3; Delm. 179; W. 1018; VH 638.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Delmonte, A., Le Bénélux D'or, Amsterdam: Jacques Schulman N.V., 1964, with supplements to 1977.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- 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 161, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2025.
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