Cambrai 1581 10 patards
This specimen was lot 1217 in Jean Elsen sale 162 (Brussels, June 2025), where it sold for €1,100 (about US$1,525 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"CAMBRAI, assiégée par les Espagnols, 10 patards, émission du 9 juin 1581. Sur flan octogonal uniface en laiton. D/ Écu à l'aigle sous la date, entouré d'une banderole inscrite CAMB-RAY. À g. et à d., poinçons X et P. Rare. Patine verte. La surface corrodée. (city of Cambrai, besieged by the Spanish, then patards of June 9, 1581. Struck on a brass octagonal planchet. Obverse: Eagle shield below the date, "CAMBRAY" around; to the left ad right, "X" and "P" are punched. Rare, green patina, pitted surfaces, Fine - Very Fine.)"
Cambrai is now in France, in the department of the Nord. This siege peice accompanied silver écus and half écus, also uniface klippes. Wikipedia comments,
"Het Beleg van Kamerijk (1581), was een belegering op de grensstad Kamerijk (tegenwoordig Cambrai) van september 1580 tot en met 24 augustus 1581 door Parma. De stad werd ontzet door Frans van Anjou, door de opstandelingen aangestelde "heer der Nederlanden" met behulp van een groot Frans leger. Parma brak met de komst van deze overmacht zijn beleg op. (The Siege of Cambrai was a siege on the border city of Cambrai from September 1580 to 24 August 1581 by the duke of Parma. The city was relieved by Francis of Anjou, "lord of the Netherlands" appointed by the rebels, with the help of a large French army. Parma lifted his siege with the arrival of this superior force.)"
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: brass, this specimen 8,44 g.
Catalog reference: Robert 230, 1 var.; v.G. 162; Mailliet 79, 2; VH 542.
- Korchnak, Lawrence C., Siege Coins of the World, 1453-1902, Lancaster, PA: Classical Numismatic Group, 2021.
- 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.
- van der Wis, Jan, and Tom Passon, Catalogus van de Nederlandse Munten geslagen sind bet aantreden van Philips II tot aan het einde van de Bataafse Republiek (1555-1806), 2nd ed., Apeldoorn, Netherlands: Omni-Trading b.v., 2009.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 162: Collection Jacques Druart, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2025.
Link to:
- Cambrai 1576 2 patards
- Oudenaarde (1582) groot siege coinage
- Cambrai (15)95 20 patards siege coinage
- Coins and currency dated 1581