View source for Tournai (1598-1611) 2 ducats Fr-288

[[Image:Tournai J124-704o.jpg|300px|thumb|Jean Elsen sale 109, lot 704]]
[[Image:Tournai J124-704r.jpg|300px|thumb]]

This specimen was lot 704 in Jean Elsen sale 124 (Brussels, March 2015), where it did not sell. The catalog description<sup>[1]</sup> noted, <blockquote>"''TOURNAI, Seigneurie, Albert et Isabelle (1598-1621), AV double ducat, s.d. (1599-1611), Droit: B. affrontés des archiducs. Revers: Ecu couronné, entouré du collier de la Toison d'or. Rare. Avec DVCE-S BVRG DOM TOR et une petite griffe au revers. Très Beau à Superbe.'' (lordship of Tournai, Albert and Isabel (1598-1621), gold double ducat without date (1599-1611). Obverse: facing busts of the archduke and archduchess; reverse: crowned arms, Order of the Golden Fleece around. Rare, small reverse scratch, very fine to extremely fine.)"</blockquote> At the end of his life, Philip II conceived the idea of granting sovereignty of the Spanish Netherlands to his sister Isabel and promised her in marriage to Ernest of Austria, governor of the region. He died in 1595 and was replaced by his brother Albert, cardinal of Toledo and viceroy of Portugal. After quitting holy orders, the archduke Albert married the princess of Spain in 1599, some months after the death of Philip II. He pursued the war against the Dutch, with little success and failing to capture Ostend after a three year siege. A twelve year armistice was finally concluded in 1609. On the debut of the reign, the monetary system of the Low Countries was completely reformed. Gold coins were struck on the ducat system.<sup>[2]</sup>

''Recorded mintage:'' unknown.

''Specification:'' 7 g, 0.900 fine gold, this specimen 6,96 g.

''Catalog reference:'' G.H., 282-7; Delm-436; Hoc, 347, Fr-288, KM 7.1.

''[[Bibliography|Source:]]''
* Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, ''Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed.'', Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014. 
* 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 der Wis, Jan, and Tom Passon, ''Catalogus van de Nederlandse Munten geslagen sind bet aantreden van Philips II tot aan het einde van de Bataafse Republiek (1555-1806), 2nd ed.,'' Apeldoorn, Netherlands: Omni-Trading b.v., 2009. 
* <sup>[1]</sup>Elsen, Philippe, et al., ''Vente Publique 124,'' Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2015. 
* <sup>[2]</sup>Elsen, Philippe, et al., ''Vente Publique 108,'' Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils, S.A., 2011. 

''Link to:''
* [[Tournai 1596 1/2 ecu|1596 ''demi-écu Philippe'']]
* [[Tournai 1600 1/8 florin|1600 ''huitième de florin d'argent'' (stoter)]]
* [[Tournai (1604-08) real|(1604-08) ''réal d'argent'']]
* [[Brabant (1600-11) 2 ducats Fr-84]]
* [[Coins and currency dated 1598]]
* return to coins of [[Netherlands, Spanish|the Spanish Netherlands]]

[[Category:Selections from Jean Elsen sale 124]][[Category:Gold ducats of Europe]][[Category:Coinage of the Dutch provinces]]