Brabant 1568(h) florin d'or Fr-71

Jean Elsen sale 158, lot 505

This specimen was lot 505 in Jean Elsen sale 158 (Brussels, March 2024), where it sold for €1,100 (about US$1,431 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"BRABANT, Duché, Philippe II (1555-1598), AV florin d'or de Bourgogne, 1568, Anvers. D/ Saint André deb. de f., t. à g., ten. sa croix et les Evangiles. R/ Ecu d'Autriche-Bourgogne couronné, entouré du collier de la Toison d'or. Rare. Frappe faible au droit. Petite fêlure sur la tranche et légère trace de pliure. Très Beau. (duchy of Brabant, Philip II, 1555-98, gold florin of Burgundy of 1568, Antwerp mint. Obverse: St. Andrew standing, head left, holding his cross and the Gospels; reverse: crowned arms of Austria-Burgundy, Order chain around. Rare, weakly struck on the obverse, small edge crack and a trace of crease, Very Fine.)"

Brabant, originally part of the Burgundian inheritance, fell to the Hapsburgs on the death of the last duke of Burgundy in 1477. On the emperor Charles's abdication in 1555, the Hapsburg inheritance was divided between the Austrian and Spanish branches, and the Netherlands passed to Philip II, a dour and unbending Catholic. His attempts to extirpate heresy caused the northern provinces to rise in revolt and, after many years of struggle, secure their independence as the United Provinces. The southern provinces, including Brabant, remained Catholic and loyal to king Philip. This type was struck at Antwerp 1567-70. It is scarce but not rare. The Spanish Hapsburgs ruled Brabant until 1700, fending off repeated attempts by the king of France to annex it. The area is now part of Belgium.

Reported Mintage: unknown.

Specification: gold, this specimen 3,23 g.

Catalog reference: Fr-71, G.H. 239-1; Delm. 117; W. 707.

Source:

• 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.

Link to:

• 1567 demi-écu de Bourgogne, Antwerp mint
• 1567 demi-écu de Bourgogne, Maastricht mint
• 1567 Burgundian rijksdaalder, Antwerp mint
• 1567 Burgundian rijksdaalder, Maastricht mint
• 1568 quart d'écu de Bourgogne, Antwerp mint
• Brabant 1568 demi-écu de Bourgogne, Antwerp mint
• 1568 Burgundian rijksdaalder, Maastricht mint
• 1569 demi-écu de Bourgogne, Antwerp mint
• 1569 Burgundian rijksdaalder, Maastricht mint
• 1570 florin d'or de Bourgogne, Antwerp mint
• Coins and currency dated 1568