Tournai (1612-13) 1/2 souverain d'or Fr-393

Jean Elsen sale 115, lot 622

Artois in 1559, from Shepherd's atlas. Tournai is in Flanders, near the Hainaut border

This specimen was lot 622 in Jean Elsen sale 115 (Brussels, December 2012) where it sold for €8500 (about US$12,974 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"TOURNAI, Seigneurie, Albert et Isabelle (1598-1621), AV demi-souverain d'or, s.d. (1612-1613), Droit : ALBERT-VS· ET· ELI-SABET· D·- GRAT Ecu d'Autriche-Bourgogne sur une croix fleuronnée. Au-dessus, une couronne. Revers : ARCH· AVST· DVCES · BVRG· DOM· TOR· Z Ecu couronné des Archiducs, entre deux monogrammes couronnés. Extrêmement Rare. Ex HSA 1402. presque Superbe. (Lordship of Tournai, Albert and Isabella (1598-1621), gold half souverain d'or without date (1612-13); obverse: shield of Austria-Burgundy over a floriate cross, crown above. Reverse: crowned arms of the dukes between crowned monograms. Extremely rare, about extremely fine.)"

Ce demi-souverain appartient au second monnayage d'Albert et Isabelle, institué après la conclusion de la Trève de Douze Ans. Les archiducs s'attachèrent à relever le pays, dévasté par trente années de guerre et vidé d'une partie de sa population. De nombreuses mesures furent prises pour restaurer l'ordre et la sécurité, relever les finances et relancer le commerce. Le système monétaire fut aussi entièrement remanié, afin de pourvoir les Pays-Bas d'une monnaie stable. Ce nouveau monnayage fut maintenu dans les grandes lignes jusqu'au milieu du 18e siècle. Il était basé sur le souverain d'or (valant 6 florins ou 120 sols) et le souverain d'argent, rapidement appelé patagon (valant 48 sols). Une nouvelle monnaie d'argent fut créée en 1618, le ducaton valant un demi-souverain d'or (60 sols). Hormis pour le double souverain, la frappe des monnaies d'or fut très réduite. 5.188 demi-souverains furent frappés à Tournai du 15 mai 1612 au 16 juillet 1613. (This half souverain appeared in the second coinage of Albert and Isabella, instituted after the end of the Truce of Twelve Years. The archdukes attempted to relieve the country, devastated by thirty years of war and the loss of part of the population. Numerous measures were taken to restore order and security, relieve the finances and reestablish commerce. The monetary system was also reformed to provide the Low Countries a stable coinage. The new coinage was maintained along these lines until the middle of the eighteenth century. It was based on the souverain d'or (valued at six florins or 120 sols) and the silver souverain, quickly nicknamed the patagon (value 48 sols or stuivers). A new silver coin was created in 1618, the half souverains were struck at Tournai between May 1612 and July 1613.)"

This type is listed for Tournai for this issue only along with a double souverain d'or, also very rare. Souverains d'or were struck in greater numbers after 1633. Albert and Isabella were regents for Philip III in the Netherlands.

Recorded mintage: 5,186.

Specification: 2.77 g, .920 fine gold; this specimen is 2,77 g.

Catalog reference: G.H., 307-7; Delm-442; Hoc, 426, Fr-393 (listed under Belgium).

Source:

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.
Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
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 115: Collection Huntington, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils, S.A., 2012.

Link to:

Tournai (1612-13) 1/2 souverain d'or Fr-393

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