Tournai 1590 1/2 ecu
This specimen was lot 792 in Jean Elsen sale 158 (Brussels, March 2024), where it sold for €200 (about US$260 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"TOURNAI, Seigneurie, Philippe II (1555-1598), restauré, AR demi-écu Philippe, 1590. D/ B. cuirassé à g. R/ Ecu couronné avec écusson de Portugal sur le tout, sur une croix de Bourgogne, entre deux briquets, portant le bijou de la Toison d'or. Patine inégale. Très Beau à Superbe. (lordship of Tournai, Philip II, 1555-98, half écu Philippe of 1590. Obverse: armored bust left; reverse: crowned arms with the escutcheon of Portugal over a Burgundian cross between two firesteels bearing the jewels of the Golden Fleece. Unevenly toned, Very Fine - Extremely 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 added to the arms.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver; this specimen 16,92 g.
Catalog reference: G.H. 211-14c; Delm-77; Hoc 270; VH 364.
- 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 158, Monnaies de la Principauté de Liège, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2024.
Link to:
- 1586 couronne d'or
- 1587 écu Philippe
- 1589 dixième d'écu Philippe
- 1589 demi-écu Philippe
- 1589 écu Philippe
- 1590 cinquième d'écu Philippe
- (1590-95) demi-réal d'or
- (1590-1600) real d'or, Philip II
- Brabant 1591 demi-écu Philippe, Antwerp mint
- Namur 1592 demi-écu Philippe
- 1593 vingtième d'écu Philippe
- Brabant 1593 cinquième d'écu Philippe, Antwerp mint
- 1594 vingtième d'écu Philippe
- 1594 demi-écu Philippe
- Coins and currency dated 1590