Flanders (1369-70) flandres d'or Fr-161
This specimen was lot 472 in Jean Elsen sale 137 (Brussels, June 2018), where it sold for €1,100 (about US$1,531 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"VLAANDEREN, Graafschap, Lodewijk van Male (1346-1384), AV gouden Flandres (Flandres d'or), 1369-1370, Gent. Vz/ De gekroonde graaf met een hermelijnmantel, staand in een gotisch portiek, een zwaard en een leeuwenschild in de hand. Links, toernooihelm. Daaronder: FLANDRES. Kz/ Gebloemd kruis in een vierpas met in het hart een leeuw. In de hoeken: F-L-A-D'. Zeldzaam Is gemonteerd geweest. Zeer Fraai à Prachtig. (county of Flanders, Louis de Male, 1346-84, gold chaise d'or of 1369-70, Ghent mint. Obverse: crowned and mantled count stands beneath a Gothic portico, sword and shield in his hands, "FLANDRES" below; reverse: floriate cross with lion in center, "F - L - A - N" in the quarters. Scarce, has been mounted, very fine to extremely fine.)"
Louis II de Male was count of Flanders when that province was one of the richest regions of Europe. Nominally part of France, Louis refused to pay homage to either the king of France or the king of England, steering a neutral course during the Hundred Years War. It was then that this imitation of a French franc à pied was struck. This type also comes without ermines on Louis's cloak (Fr-162), which variety is very rare. Later, he married his daughter to Philip, duke of Burgundy, uniting the two houses against the authority of the king of France.
Reported Mintage: unknown.
Specification: gold, this specimen 4,11 g.
Catalog reference: Gaill. 217 var.; Delm-464; Elsen 36; Martiny, Gent, 46-1; Fr-161.
- 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.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 137, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils, S.A., 2018.
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