Flanders 1667 1/2 patagon
This specimen was lot 719 in Jean Elsen sale 141 (Brussels, June 2019), where it sold for €160 (about US$212 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"VLAANDEREN, Graafschap, Karel II (1665-1700), AR halve patagon, 1667, Brugge. Vz/ Gekroond stokkenkruis met een vuurijzer tussen het jaartal en het juweel van het Gulden Vlies. Kz/ Gekroond wapenschild omringd door de keten van het Gulden Vlies. Zeldzaam Oneven rand. Mooie patina. Zeer Fraai. (county of Flanders, Charles II, 1665-1700, silver half patagon of 1667, Bruges mint. Obverse: crowned Burgundian cross with the jewels of the Golden Fleece; reverse: crowned arms with the Order of the Golden Fleece around. Rare, uneven edge, nice patina, Very Fine.)"
Patagons were issued in the Spanish Netherlands and associated states (including the bishopric of Liège and Franche Comte) during the seventeenth century, where they competed with French écus, German talers and Dutch daalders and ducatons. The type shown here was struck at the Bruges mint 1667-69, 1672-75, 1680, 1686-89. A very similar coin was struck for Brabant. The SCWC notes the Flemish issues as the most common, followed by the Brabant issue, tho none are plentiful today. The half and quarter patagons are considerably scarcer than the whole patagons. The series is plagued by bad planchets and poor strikes, reducing their appeal to collectors.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 14.05 g, 0.875 fine silver, this specimen 13,99 g.
Catalog reference: KM 66, G.H. 351-4a; Delm-348; V.H. 699.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- 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 141, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils, S.A., 2019.
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