Maastricht (15)79 8 sols

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Jean Elsen sale 164, lot 847
JE164-0847r.jpg

This specimen was lot 847 in Jean Elsen sale 164 (Brussels, March 2026), where it sold for €130 (about US$181 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,

"BRABANT, Duché, Maastricht assiégée par Alexandre Farnèse, Cu 8 sols, 3e émission (juin 1579). D/ Écu heaumé de la ville, entre 7-9. R/ Main ten. une épée séparant la légende en quatre lignes. Au-dessus, deux étoiles. Valeur à l'exergue. Très Beau. (duchy of Brabant, Maastricht besieged by Alexander Farnese, copper eight sols, third emission (June 1579). Obverse: helmeted arms of the town divide the date; reverse: a hand holding a sword separates the legend into four lines, two stars above, value in the exergue. Very Fine.)

Après le ralliement des provinces du Sud, le siège de Maastricht, du 12 mars au 28 juin 1579, fut le premier épisode de la reconquête du Brabant par l'armée espagnole d'Alexandre Farnèse. Après de durs combats, la ville fut enlevée par surprise lors d'un assaut nocturne et livrée au pillage pendant plusieurs jours. Il y eut trois émissions de monnaies de nécessité en cuivre pendant le siège. (After rallying the southern provinces, the siege of Maastricht, from March 12 to June 28, 1579, was the first episode in the reconquest of Brabant by the Spanish army of Alexander Farnese. After heavy fighting, the city was taken by surprise by a nighttime assault and pillaged for several days. There were three issues of copper necessity coins during the siege.)"

During the two month siege, the defenders had time to issue several types of emergency coins, some of which we feature here. The one and two sols are from the first series, the twelve and 24 sols from the second series and the eight, 16 and forty sols from the third series. Farnese eventually reconquered the southern low Countries for Spain but besieged and destroyed Maastricht, Brussels, Tournai and Antwerp in the process. His campaign against the northern provinces was a destructive failure.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 4.17 g, copper, 29 mm diameter, plain edge; this specimen 4,34 g.

Catalog reference: W. 816 var.; v.G. 155; VH 537.

Source:

  • Korchnak, Lawrence C., Siege Coins of the World, 1453-1902, Lancaster, PA: Classical Numismatic Group, 2021.
  • 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 164: Monnaies du duché de Brabant et du royaume de Belgique, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2026.

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