Tournai 1594 1/2 ecu

Jean Elsen sale 158, lot 793

This specimen was lot 793 in Jean Elsen sale 158 (Brussels, March 2024), where it sold for €220 (about US$286 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"TOURNAI, Seigneurie, Philippe II (1555-1598), AR demi-écu Philippe, 1594. D/ B. cuirassé à g. R/ Ecu couronné avec écusson de Portugal sur le tout, sur une croix de Bourgogne, entre deux briquets, portant le bijou de la Toison d'or. Rare. Légère faiblesse de frappe. Très Beau. (lordship of Tournai, Philip II, 1555-98, half écu Philippe of 1594. Obverse: armored bust left; reverse: crowned arms with the escutcheon of Portugal over a Burgundian cross between two firesteels bearing the jewels of the Golden Fleece. Rare, slightly weakly struck, Very Fine.)"

By 1586, the revolt of the southern provinces had been crushed. The Spanish rulers, among other things, restored the old écu Philippe and its fractions and struck them to the end of the reign. By this time, king Philip had added Portugal to his domain, so that shield was added to the arms.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: silver; this specimen 16,94 g.

Catalog reference: G.H. 211-14c; Delm-77; Hoc 273; VH 364.

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 158, Monnaies de la Principauté de Liège, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2024.

Link to:

• 1590 demi-écu Philippe
• (1590-95) demi-réal d'or
• 1591 demi-écu Philippe, Antwerp mint
• Namur 1592 demi-écu Philippe
• 1593 vingtième d'écu Philippe, Antwerp mint
• 1593 vingtième d'écu Philippe
• 1593 cinquième d'écu Philippe, Antwerp mint
• Brabant 1594(s) gigot = duit
• 1594 vingtième d'écu Philippe
• 1594 demi-écu Philippe, Antwerp mint
• 1595 demi-écu Philippe
• Coins and currency dated 1594