Flanders 1696 4 souverain d'or Fr-230
This specimen was lot 1241 in Jean Elsen sale 150 (Brussels, March 2022), where it sold for €64,000 (about US$84,853 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"VLAANDEREN, Graafschap, Karel II (1665-1700), AV 4 souverein (halve gouden dukaton), 1696, Brugge. Slechts 406 st. geslagen. Vz/ Bb. van de koning r. met mantel en halsketting van het Gulden Vlies. Kz/ Gekroond wapenschild gesteund door twee leeuwen. Onderaan het juweel van het Gulden Vlies. Van de grootste zeldzaamheid Lichte justeringsporen. Goed geslagen exemplaar, op een brede muntplaat. Prachtig. (county of Flanders, Charles II, 1665-1700, gold four sovereign or half gold ducaton of 1696, Bruges mint. Only 406 struck. Obverse: draped bust right, wearing the Order of the Golden Fleece; reverse: crowned arms supported by two lions, Order of the Golden Fleece around. Well struck on a broad planchet, extremely Fine.)"
This rare and expensive type was struck during the reign of Charles II, the last Hapsburg king of Spain. It was struck 1696, 1700 only. With such a small quantity made, it is likely that they were intended for presentation.
Recorded mintage: 406.
Specification: 22.16 g, 0.948 fine gold, this specimen 22,30 g.
Catalog reference: Fr-230, G.H. 347-4; Delm-568; V.H. 704.
- 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.
- 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 150: Collection J.F.L. Blankenberg, Monnaies de l'Orient Latin, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2022.
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