Hainaut (15)81 1/5 ecu

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Jean Elsen sale 162, lot 688
JE162-0688r.jpg

This specimen was lot 688 in Jean Elsen sale 162 (Brussels, June 2025), where it sold for €220 (about US$305 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,

"HAINAUT, Comté, Philippe II (1555-1598), AR cinquième d'écu Philippe, 1581, Mons. D/ B. cuir. à g. R/ Écu couronné sur une croix de Bourgogne, entre deux briquets. Très rare. Éclat sur la tranche. (county of Hainaut, Philip II, 1555-98, silver fifth écu Philippie of 1581, Mons mint. Obverse: armored bust left; reverse: crowned arms over a Burgundian cross, between two briquets. Very rare, edge fault, Very Fine.)"

This type represents a very early experiment with decimal coinage, over a century before Russia adopted her hundred kopeks = one ruble. Twentieth, tenth and fifth écus were minted in Artois, Brabant, Flanders, Hainaut and Tournai. Tournai seems to have been the largest issuer of this denomination. Numista lists this for 1581-82 although a 1584 is known to exist. Note the two digit date.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 6.8 g, 0.833 fine silver, this specimen 6,71 g.

Catalog reference: G.H. 212-10a; Chalon 183; Lucas, Hainaut, 202; VH 304.

Sources:

  • 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 162: Collection Jacques Druart, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2025.

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