Flanders (1521) 1/2 real d'or Fr-208

Jean Elsen sale 148, lot 763

This specimen was lot 763 in Jean Elsen sale 148 (Brussels, September 2021), where it sold for €1,200 (about US$1,701 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"VLAANDEREN, Graafschap, Keizer Karel (1506-1555), AV halve gouden reaal, z.j. (na 1521), Brugge. Interpunctie met kruisjes. Vz/ Gekroond keizerlijk wapenschild op een gebloemd kruis. Kz/ Gekroond wapenschild met 16 kwartieren. Barstje. goede Zeer Fraai. (county of Flanders, emperor Charles (1506-55), undated half golden real, Bruges mint. Legends punctuated with crosses. Obverse: crowned imperial arms over a floriate cross; reverse: crowned arms of sixteen quarters. Cracked, good Very Fine.)"

At this time, the Hapsburgs were consolidating their hold on the Low Countries, a process that would not be completed until emperor Charles V obtained the holdings of the bishop of Utrecht in the 1520's. Unfortunately, at the same time, Protestantism was spreading in the Netherlands, ripping apart the Hapsburg's hoped-for unity.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: silver, this specimen 3,46 g.

Catalog reference: G.H. 184-5a; Delm. 516; V.H. 221.

Source:

• 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.
• ^[1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 148: Monnaies, Médailles et Décorations, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2021.

Link to:

• (1521-56) kwart groot
• Brabant (1521-45) real d'argent, Antwerp mint
• Brabant (1521-52) demi-réal d'or, Charles V, Antwerp mint
• Brabant (1521-56) real d'or
• Brabant (1521-45) carolus d'or, Antwerp mint
• Brabant (1521-45) carolus d'or, Maastricht mint
• Flanders (1521-51) carolus d'or Fr-207
• Flanders (1521-56) real d'or Fr-206
• Brabant (1524-36) demi-real d'argent, Maastricht mint
• Coins and currency dated 1521