Brabant 1703 ducaton Dav-1703
This specimen was lot 834 in Jean Elsen sale 108 (Brussels, March 2011) where it sold for 300 euros (about US$493 including buyer's fee). The catalog description[1] noted,
"BRABANT, Duché, Philippe V (1700-1712), AR ducaton, 1703, Anvers. Deuxième type. Faible relief. Droit: B. cuirassé à droite, coiffé d'une perruque, portant le collier de la Toison d'or. Revers: Ecu couronné, soutenu par deux lions et entouré des colliers du Saint-Esprit et de la Toison d'or. Nettoyé. Traces d'ajustage. Beau à Très Beau" (Duchy of Brabant, Philip V, 1700-12, silver ducaton of 1703, Antwerp mint, second type, weak strike. Obverse: wigged, armored bust, wearing the Order of the Golden Fleece. Reverse: crowned arms supported by two lions, Golden Fleece around. Cleaned, adjustment marks, fine to very fine.)
The type was struck for Philip V, who succeeded Charles II as king of Spain in 1700. His throne was challenged by the Austrian pretender, the archduke Charles, sparking the War of the Spanish Succession, a good part of which was fought in the Spanish Netherlands (now Belgium). Philip managed to hold on to his Spanish throne but was forced to surrender Brabant and Flanders to the Austrians. Coinage for the region ceased until 1749.
Recorded mintage: 427,920.
Specification: silver, this specimen 32.54 grams.
Catalog reference: G.H., 365-1c; Delm-354c; W., 1096, Dav-1703, KM 131.1.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1700-1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- 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.
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