Holland (1487-88) griffin
This specimen was lot 826 in Jean Elsen sale 151 (Brussels, June 2022), where it sold for €650 (about US$812 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"NEDERLAND, HOLLAND, Philips de Schone (1482-1506), AR griffioen, z.j. (1487-1488), Dordrecht. Vz/ Griffioen l., met in de linker een vuursteen en in de rechter een vuurstaal. Kz/ DEV' PL-VS AMA- QVA AR-GENTV' Wapenschild rustend op een gevoet kruis. Interpunctie met sterretjes. Zeldzaam Barstje aan de rand. goede Zeer Fraai. Uit de verzameling Paul De Witte en uit onze lijst 193, september 1997, 563. (Netherlands, county of Holland, Philip the Fair, 1482-1506, undated silver griffin, Dordrecht mint. Obverse: griffin facing left, holding a flint in its left claw and a firesteel in the right; reverse: arms over a long cross, legend punctuated with stars. Rare, edge crack, good Very Fine.)"
In the late fifteenth century, the county of Holland was part of the Burgundian inheritance. The death of duke Charles the Rash, in 1477, allowed the county to pass to the Hapsburgs. This coin was issued by the Burgundian prince Philip the Fair. His son, Charles V, would unite Austria and Spain.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen is 3,30 g.
Catalog reference: G.H. 70-6; v.d.Ch. 19, 24; V.H. 90.
- 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 151: Collection Paul Witte, Monnaies de Brabant, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2022.
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