Gelderland (1423-72) florin Fr-56
The first specimen was lot 34530 in Heritage sale 3082 (New York, January 2020), where it sold for $912. The catalog description[1] noted, "Netherlands: Gelderland. Arnold Van Egmond gold St. Jans Goldgulden (Florin d'or) ND (1423-1472) AU58 NGC. S. IOHANNES - BABTISTA (lion), John the Baptist standing facing / DVX ARNOLD GEL Z IVL Z COMIS, arms of Gelderland surrounded by four shields in quadrilobe. Full flan with exceptional strike and full legends, the obverse exhibiting a bit of graininess around head, but in reality, no wear whatsoever." The second specimen was lot 816 in Jean Elsen sale 151 (Brussels, June 2022), where it sold for €650 (about US$812 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[2] noted,
"NEDERLAND, GELDERLAND, Hertogdom, Arnold van Egmond (1423-1472), AV St. Jansgoudgulden. Vz/ Staande Johannes de Doper met kruis tussen de voeten. Kz/ Gelders wapenschild omringd door vier wapentjes in een vierpas. Vlekjes op vz. Op een brede muntplaat geslagen. Zeer Fraai à Prachtig. (Netherlands, duchy of Gelderland, Arnold of Egmond, 1423-72, gold St. John gulden. Obverse: St. John the Baptist stands with cross; reverse: ducal arms in a quadrilobe. A few rim flaws, struck on a broad planchet, Very Fine - Extremely Fine.)"
This coin seems a little light to be a ducat (3.50 g) or a goldgulden (3.25 g). It does not appear to be clipped but one never knows. In the late fifteenth century, the Netherlands was still an empty wasteland with only a shadow of her future importance. Gelderland was ruled by an independent count only loosely tied to the Empire. Only on his extinction did Gelderland become part of the Hapsburg inheritance, about the same time Lutheranism and Calvinism began to obtain a hold there. After Charles V's death in 1556, the Hapsburgs and the Protestants would collide, sparking the States' Revolt.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.25 g, 0.917 fine gold, the first specimen 3.07 g, the second specimen is 3,20 g.
Catalog reference: v.d.Ch. 10, 3; Delm-604; Fr-56.
- Delmonte, A., Le Bénélux D'or, Amsterdam: Jacques Schulman N.V., 1964, with supplements to 1977.
- 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]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Online Auction 3082, featuring the Caranett Collection, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2019.
- [2]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 151: Collection Paul Witte, Monnaies de Brabant, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2022.
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