Hainaut 1586 1/2 ecu
This specimen was lot 911 in Jean Elsen sale 159 (Brussels, June 2024), where it sold for €420 (about US$539 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"HAINAUT, Comté, Philippe II (1555-1598), AR demi-écu Philippe, 1586, Mons. D/ B. cuir. à g. R/ Ecu couronné sur une croix de Bourgogne, sans les armes de Portugal, entre deux briquets, portant le bijou de la Toison d'or. Rare. Très Beau. Provient de la collection Symoens et de notre vente 117, 15 juin 2013, 1137. (county of Hainaut, Philip II, 1555-98, silver half écu Philippe of 1586, Mons mint. Obverse: armored bust right; reverse: crowned arms without the arms of Portugal, over a Burgundian cross between two firesteels, order chain around. Rare, very fine.)"
By 1586, the revolt of the southern provinces had been crushed. The Spanish rulers, among other things, restored the old écu Philippe and its fractions and struck them to the end of the reign. By this time, king Philip had added Portugal to his domain, so that shield was later added to the arms.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen is 16,76 g.
Catalog reference: G.H. 211-10; Chalon 182; Delm-70; VH 301.
- 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 159, Collection Harry Dewit, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2024.
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