Tournai 1634 1/2 patagon
This specimen was lot 1295 in Jean Elsen sale 153 (Brussels, December 2022), where it sold for €360 (about US$455 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"TOURNAI, Seigneurie, Philippe IV (1621-1665), AR demi-patagon, 1634. D/ Croix de Bourgogne sous une couronne, portant le bijou de la Toison d'or. R/ Ecu couronné, entouré du collier de la Toison d'or. Rare. Très Beau. (lordship of Tournai, Philip IV, 1621-65, silver half patagon of 1634. Obverse: Burgundian cross under a crown, supporting the jewel of the Golden Fleece; reverse: crowned arms, Order of the Golden Fleece around. Rare, Very Fine.)"
Patagons were issued in the Spanish Netherlands and associated states (including the bishopric of Liège and Franche Comte) during the seventeenth century, where they competed with French écus, German talers and Dutch daalders and ducatons. Fractional patagons are much less often encountered. Tournai was part of the Spanish Netherlands 1556-1668 and passed to France 1668-1713. The type shown here was struck at the Tournai mint 1626, 1630-36, 1465-48, 1652-65 for Philip IV of Spain. The SCWC notes the Flemish patagons as the most common, followed by the Brabant issue, tho none are plentiful today. The series is plagued by bad planchets and poor strikes, reducing their appeal to collectors.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 14.05 g, .875 fine silver; this specimen is 13,81 g.
Catalog reference: KM 48, G.H. 330-9; Delm-308; Hoc 561; V.H. 646.
- 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 153, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2022.
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