Tournai 1623 2 souverain d'or Fr-395
This specimen was lot 819 in Jean Elsen sale 158 (Brussels, March 2024), where it sold for €13,000 (about US$16,905 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"TOURNAI, Seigneurie, Philippe IV (1621-1665), double souverain, 1623. Premier type. D/ B. couronné et cuirassé à d., une grande fraise au col. R/ Ecu couronné, entouré du collier de la Toison d'or. Extrêmement rare. Flan large. Eraflure à 12h. Très Beau à Superbe. (lordship of Tournai, Philip IV, 1621-65, double souverain of 1623, first type. Obverse: crowned and armored bust right with a large ruffed collar; reverse: crowned arms, order chain around. Extremely rare, large flan, erasure at 12 o'clock, Very Fine - Extremely Fine.)"
This type was struck intermittently 1623-37 for Philip IV but all dates are rare. The denomination was struck until 1657 with an older portrait of Philip IV (KM 55). Note the "TORN" next to the crown on the reverse.
Reported Mintage: 1,950.
Specification: 11.08 g, 0.947 fine gold, this specimen 11,13 g.
Catalog reference: Fr-395, KM 45, G.H. 324-9a; Delm-445; Hoc 471; VH 636.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Delmonte, A., Le Bénélux D'or, Amsterdam: Jacques Schulman N.V., 1964, with supplements to 1977.
- 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.
- 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.
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