Tournai 1649 1/2 ducaton
This specimen was lot 901 in Jean Elsen sale 136 (Brussels, March 2018), where it sold for €300 (about US$440 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"TOURNAI, Seigneurie, Philippe IV (1621-1665), AR demi-ducaton, 1649. Deuxième type. D/ B. dr. et cuir. à d. R/ Ecu couronné, tenu par deux lions. En dessous, le bijou de la Toison d'or. Très rare Traces de corrosion. Très Beau. Provient de notre vente 89, 9 septembre 2006, 312. (lordship of Tournai, Philip IV, 1621-65, silver half ducaton of 1649, second type. Obverse: draped and armored bust to right; reverse: crowned arms supported by two lions, the jewel of the Order of the Golden Fleece below. Very rare, corroded, very fine.)"
The half ducaton shown here was struck at the Antwerp and Brussels mints 1637-66. The SCWC prices the Brussels issues about double the Antwerp issue. The Tournai series is noted for 1647-51 and is rare to very rare. The series is plagued by bad planchets and poor strikes, reducing their appeal to collectors.
Reported Mintage: unknown.
Specification: 16.24 g, 0.944 fine silver, 36 mm diameter, this specimen 14,99 g.
Catalog reference: G.H. 328-9b; Delm-291; Hoc 520, KM 48.
- 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 136: Collection Martiny, Collection Nef, Collection Casterman, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils, S.A., 2018.
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