Flanders 1582 1/2 daalder

Jean Elsen sale 145, lot 1879

This specimen was lot 1879 in Jean Elsen sale 145 (Brussels, September 2020), where it sold for €7,500 (about US$10,687 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"VLAANDEREN, Graafschap, Frans van Alençon, hertog van Anjou (1581-1583), AR halve daalder, 1582, Brugge. Vz/ Geharnast bb. r., met brede kraag. Kz/ Gekroond wapenschild van Frankrijk-Vlaanderen, tussen de letters F-F. Uiterst zeldzaam. goede Zeer Fraai. Uit onze veiling 62, 24 juni 2000, 1274. (county of Flanders, Francis of Alençon, duke of Anjou, 1581-83, silver half daalder of 1582, Bruges mint. Obverse: armored bust right in wide collar; reverse: crowned arms of France and Flanders between the letters "F - F". Very rare, good Very Fine.)"

Francis, Duke of Anjou and Alençon (1555-84) was the youngest son of King Henry II of France and Catherine de' Medici. After falling out with his brother, king Henry III, and attempting to woo queen Elizabeth of England, Anjou continued on to the Netherlands. In 1579 William the Silent had invited him to become hereditary sovereign of the United Provinces, and on 29 September 1580 the Dutch States General (with the exception of Zeeland and Holland) had signed the Treaty of Plessis-les-Tours with the Duke, who would assume the title "Protector of the Liberty of the Netherlands" and become the sovereign. He did not arrive until 10 February 1582, when William officially welcomed him in Flushing. In spite of the Joyous Entries he was accorded in Bruges and Ghent and his ceremonious installation as Duke of Brabant and Count of Flanders, Anjou was not popular with the Dutch and Flemish, who continued to see the Catholic French as enemies; the provinces of Zeeland and Holland refused to recognize him as their sovereign, and William, the central figure of the "Politiques" who worked to defuse religious hostilities, came under extensive criticism for his "French politics". The duke attempted to seize Antwerp by force but was beaten off by the locals. Discredited, he fled to France and reconciled with his brother. This half daalder, which seems to be struck to the standard of the écu philippe, was issued during his Dutch adventure.

Reported Mintage: unknown.

Specification: silver, this specimen 17,12 g.

Catalog reference: D.d.P., RBN 34 (1878), 2, 9; Delm-227; V.H. 422.

Source:

• 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 145, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2020.

Link to:

• 1570 halve Bourgondische rijksdaalder, Bruges mint
• 1582 ½ noble, revolt in Ghent
• 1582 noble, Ghent in rebellion against Philip II
• Brabant 1582 demi-écu Philippe, Antwerp mint
• Brabant 1585 demi-écu Philippe, Antwerp mint
• Coins and currency dated 1582
• return to coins of Spanish Netherlands