Artois 1589 ecu Dav-8652
This specimen was lot 876 in Jean Elsen sale 159 (Brussels, June 2024), where it sold for €260 (about US$334 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ARTOIS, Comté, Philippe II (1555-1598), AR écu Philippe, 1589, Arras. D/ B. cuirassé à d. R/ Ecu couronné sur une croix de Bourgogne, entre deux briquets, portant le bijou de la Toison d'or. Très rare. Rogné. Beau à Très Beau. (county of Artois, Philip II, 1555-98, silver écu Philippe of 1589, Arras mint. Obverse: armored bust right; reverse: crowned arms over a Burgundian cross between two firesteels, order chain around. Very rare, clipped, fine to 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. Artois was conquered and annexed to France soon after this coin was issued.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen is 30,19 g.
Catalog reference: Dav-8652, G.H. 210-9; Delm. 38; Dewismes 215; VH 363.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1484-1600, Frankfurt: Numismatischer Verlag, 1977.
- 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 159, Collection Harry Dewit, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2024.
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