Brabant 1566(h) 1/2 ecu
This specimen was lot 501 in Jean Elsen sale 158 (Brussels, March 2024), where it sold for €160 (about US$208 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"BRABANT, Duché, Philippe II (1555-1598), AR demi-écu Philippe, 1566, Anvers. D/ B. cuir. à g., sous la date. R/ Ecu couronné sur une croix de Bourgogne, entre deux briquets, portant le bijou de la Toison d'or. Nettoyé. Légères traces de corrosion. Très Beau. (duchy of Brabant, Philip II, 1555-98, silver half écu Philippe of 1566, Antwerp mint. Obverse: armored bust left, date below; reverse: crowned arms over a Burgundian cross between two firesteels supporting the jewel of the Golden Fleece. Cleaned, light traces of corrosion, Very Fine.)"
Brabant, originally part of the Burgundian inheritance, fell to the Hapsburgs on the death of the last duke of Burgundy in 1477. On the emperor Charles's abdication in 1555, the Hapsburg inheritance was divided between the Austrian and Spanish branches, and the Netherlands passed to Philip II, a dour and unbending Catholic. His attempts to extirpate heresy caused the northern provinces to rise in revolt and, after many years of struggle, secure their independence as the United Provinces. The southern provinces, including Brabant, remained Catholic and loyal to king Philip. This type is known with and without "ANG REX" in the obverse legend, marking the king's brief marriage to Mary of England. It was struck at Antwerp (shown here) and Maastricht. The Spanish Hapsburgs ruled Brabant until 1700, fending off repeated attempts by the king of France to annex it. The area is now part of Belgium.
Reported Mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 16,97 g.
Catalog reference: G.H. 211-1b; Delm-52; W. 720; VH 267.
- 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:
- 1564 demi-écu Philippe, Antwerp mint
- 1566 cinquième d'écu Philippe, Antwerp mint
- 1567 cinquième d'écu Philippe, Maastricht mint
- 1567 demi-écu de Bourgogne, Antwerp mint
- 1567 demi-écu de Bourgogne, Maastricht mint
- 1567 Burgundian rijksdaalder, Antwerp mint
- 1567 Burgundian rijksdaalder, Maastricht mint
- Coins and currency dated 1566