Overijssel (1555-81) 1/2 real d'or Fr-173
This specimen was lot 1816 in Sincona sale 59 (Zürich, October 2019), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted,
"THE NETHERLANDS | Overijssel, Provinz, Philip II. von Spanien, 1555-1581. 1/2 Real o. J. Selten. Gutes sehr schön. (Netherlands, province of Overijssel, Philip II of Spain, 1555-81, undated half real d'or. Rare, Good very fine.)"
On the emperor Charles's abdication in 1555, the Hapsburg inheritance was divided between the Austrian and Spanish branches, and the Netherlands passed to Philip II, a dour and unbending Catholic. His attempts to extirpate heresy caused the northern provinces to rise in revolt and, after many years of struggle, secure their independence as the United Provinces. The southern provinces, including Brabant, remained Catholic and loyal to king Philip. The larger real d'or (which Overijssel did not issue) is known with and without "ANG REX" in the obverse legend, marking the king's brief marriage to Mary of England. Several other provinces issued this denomination, including Brabant (Fr-68), Flanders (Fr-213) and Gelderland (Fr-76).
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: gold, this specimen 3.49 g.
Catalog reference: Delmonte 1035 var. Fr-173.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- Delmonte, A., Le Bénélux D'or, Amsterdam: Jacques Schulman N.V., 1964, with supplements to 1977.
- van der Wis, Jan, and Tom Passon, Catalogus van de Nederlandse Munten geslagen sind bet aantreden van Philips II tot aan het einde van de Bataafse Republiek (1555-1806), 2nd ed., Apeldoorn, Netherlands: Omni-Trading b.v., 2009.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, Sincona Auction 59: Gold and Silver Coins and Medals; Coins and Medals from Switzerland, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2019.
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