Flanders (1454-55) 2/3 lion d'or Fr-186
The first specimen was lot 1224 in Jean Elsen sale 146 (Brussels, November 2020), where it sold for €1,600 (about US$2,332 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"VLAANDEREN, Graafschap, Philips de Goede (1419-1467), AV twee derde gouden leeuw, 1454-1455, Brugge. Vz/ Zittende leeuw n. l. onder een gotisch baldakijn tussen vuurijzers. Kz/ Bourgondisch wapenschild op een gebloemd kruis. Zeer zeldzaam Licht geplooid. bijna Zeer Fraai. (county of Flanders, Philip the Good, 1419-67, gold two-thirds lion, Bruges mint. Obverse: seated lion under a gothic baldachin; reverse: Burgundian arms over a floriate cross. Very rare, lightly polished, about Very Fine.)"
The second specimen was lot 1535 in Jean Elsen sale 155 (Brussels, June 2023), where it sold for €1,900 (about US$2,490 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[2] noted,
"VLAANDEREN, Graafschap, Philips de Goede (1419-1467), AV twee derde gouden leeuw, 1454-1455, Brugge. Vz/ Zittende leeuw n. l. onder een gotisch baldakijn tussen vuurijzers. Kz/ Bourgondisch wapenschild op een gebloemd kruis. Zeer zeldzaam. Krasjes. bijna Zeer Fraai. (county of Flanders, Philip the Good, 1419-67, gold two-thirds lion, circa 1454-55, Bruges mint. Obverse: seated lion left under a Gothic baldachin; reverse: Burgundian arms over a floriate cross. Very rare, scratches, about Very Fine.)"
Philip the Good was succeeded by Charles the Rash (1467-77). On his death, the Burgundian inheritance, including Flanders, was partitioned between France and the Hapsburgs, with Flanders falling to the Hapsburgs. This type, along with a lion d'or (Fr-185) and a third lion d'or (Fr-187), was struck in Flanders. This denomination was also struck in Hainaut (Fr-270) but not in Brabant.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: gold, the first specimen 2,80 g, the second specimen 2,78 g.
Catalog reference: Fr-186, G.H. 4-2; Delm-490; V.H. 17.
- 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.
- Delmonte, A., Le Bénélux D'or, Amsterdam: Jacques Schulman N.V., 1964, with supplements to 1977.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 146: Collection Anthony Lorrain Monnaies de Metz, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2020.
- [2]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 155, Collection Marc Bar et Distinctions de Jean-Baptiste Nothomb, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2023.
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