Brabant 1684(a) patagon Dav-4491
This specimen was lot 1184 in Jean Elsen sale 160 (Brussels, November 2024), where it sold for €180 (about US$228 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"BRABANT, Duché, Charles II (1665-1700), AR patagon, 1684, Bruxelles. D/ Croix de Bourgogne sous une couronne, portant le bijou de la Toison d'or. R/ Ecu couronné, entouré du collier de la Toison d'or. Rare. Flan large. presque Très Beau. (duchy of Brabant, Charles II, 1665-1700, silver patagon of 1684, Brussels mint. Obverse: Burgundian cross under a crown, jewel of the Golden Fleece below. Reverse: crowned arms, Order of the Golden Fleece around. Rare, large planchet, about very fine.)"
This scarce type was struck at Brussels 1672-43, 1676-77 and 1684-86. Subsequent patagons were struck on a screw press (Dav-4498). The feeble reign of Charles II, the last of the Spanish Hapsburgs, was a disaster for Belgium, as the region was repeatedly invaded and devastated by the armies of Louis XIV. The turmoil did not end with Charles' death, as the powers of Europe fought a fifteen year war over partitioning the Hapsburg empire. In 1714, Belgium passed to Austria to keep it out of the hands of the French.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 28.10 g, 0.875 fine silver, this specimen is 28,00 g.
Catalog reference: Dav-4491, KM 81.2, G.H., Suppl., 350-2a; Delm-343; W. 1082; VH 698.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1600-1700, Galesburg, IL, 1974.
- 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 160, Collection de deniers liegeois et Collection de monnaies d'or francaises, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2024.
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