Ghent (15)83 12 mite
This specimen was lot 841 in Jean Elsen sale 161 (Brussels, March 2025), where it sold for €220 (about US$287 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"VLAANDEREN, Gent in opstand tegen Philips II (1581-1584), Cu 12 mijten, december 1583. Vz/ *XII*GHENT*/ MYTEN Klimmende leeuw n. l. Daaronder, 83. Kz/ Gekroond wapenschild met schuinbalk waarin S·P·Q·G. Gilleman 33; Martiny, Gent, 180; VH 451. (county of Flanders, city of Ghent in revolt against Philip II, 1581-84, copper twelve mites of 1583. Obverse: liion rampant left, date below; reverse: crowned arms with legend "S·P·Q·G". good Very Fine.)"
In another auction, Jean Elsen commented,
En août 1580, les Etats Généraux offrirent la souveraineté des Pays-Bas au duc d'Anjou, frère cadet d'Henri III, qui s'empressa de l'accepter. Après avoir tenté en vain d'obtenir la main de la reine Elisabeth d'Angleterre, il fut inauguré comme duc de Brabant puis comme comte de Flandre en février et juillet 1582, mais les provinces du Nord refusèrent de le reconnaître. Son monnayage était constitué de couronnes d'or et de demi-écus d'argent, frappés sur le même pied que les monnaies au titre de Philippe II frappées sous l'autorité des Etats. Malgré des débuts prometteurs, François d'Alençon se rendit rapidement impopulaire en raison de son caractère orgueilleux (la légende de ses monnaies, aspirant à la gloire éternelle, en témoigne) et de sa volonté évidente de transformer sa souveraineté contrôlée par les Etats en pouvoir absolu. La ville de Gand cessa de le reconnaître dès 1582. En janvier 1583, les troupes françaises tentèrent de s'emparer par surprise des principales places fortes de Flandre et de Brabant mais elles furent repoussées. Les Etats et le duc d'Anjou ne purent se réconcilier alors qu'Alexandre Farnèse prenait place après place. Jugeant la situation sans espoir, Alençon quitta définitivement les Pays-Bas en juin 1583 et mourut l'année. (In August 1580, seeking to win the alliance of France, the States General offered the sovereignty of the Netherlands to the Duke of Anjou, younger brother of Henry III, who hastened to accept it. The forfeiture of Philip II was solemnly proclaimed in The Hague the following year, on July 26, 1581. After having tried in vain to obtain the hand of Queen Elizabeth of England, he was inaugurated as Duke of Brabant then as Count of Flanders in February and July 1582, but the northern provinces refused to recognize him. His coinage consisted of gold crowns and silver half-ecus, struck on the same standard as the coins under Philip II minted under the authority of the States. Despite promising beginnings, François d'Alençon quickly became unpopular because of his arrogant character (the legend on his coins, aspiring to eternal glory, testifies to this) and his obvious desire to transform his sovereignty controlled by the States into absolute power. The city of Ghent ceased to recognize him in 1582. In January 1583, French troops attempted to seize the main strongholds of Flanders and Brabant by surprise, but they were repulsed. The Estates and the Duke of Anjou could not reconcile as Alexander Farnese took place after place. Judging the situation to be hopeless, Alençon left the Netherlands definitively in June 1583 and died the following year at Château-Thierry, at the age of 28.)"
This copper coin, with the city arms on the reverse, is very similar to one with d'Alençon's arms. We deduce that it was issued after he departed.
Recorded mintage: 49,196.
Specification: 5.8 g, copper, 26 mm diameter, this specimen is 5,84 g.
Catalog reference: G.H. 212-7b; VH 306.
- 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 161, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2025.
Link to:
- Brabant 1583(h) 1/2 ecu, François d'Alençon
- Ghent 1583 6 mites, "S·P·Q·G·" reverse
- Ghent (15)83 12 mites, François d'Alençon
- Ghent 1583 8 stuiver
- Coins and currency dated 1583