Tournai (1590-95) 1/2 real d'or Fr-385

Jean Elsen sale 158, lot 781

This specimen was lot 781 in Jean Elsen sale 158 (Brussels, March 2024), where it sold for €6,500 (about US$8,452 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"TOURNAI, Seigneurie, Philippe II (1555-1598), restauré, AV demi-réal d'or, s.d. (1590-1595). Aux armes de Portugal. D/ DOMINVS MIHI ADIVTOR B. cuir. à g. R/ PHS D G HISP Z REX D TORNA Ecu couronné, avec l'écusson de Portugal sur le tout. Très rare. Très Beau à Superbe. (lordship of Tournai, Philip II, 1555-98, restored, undated gold half real, circa 1590-95, with the arms of Portugal. Obverse: armored bust left; reverse: crowned arms with the escutcheon of Portugal. Very rare, very Fine - Extremely 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. This denomination was struck in numerous provinces but we don't see any struck this late other than Tournai.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 3.48 g, gold; this specimen 3,44 g.

Catalog reference: Fr-385, G.H. 207-14b; Delm-434; Hoc 244; VH 359.

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.
Delmonte, A., Le Bénélux D'or, Amsterdam: Jacques Schulman N.V., 1964, with supplements to 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 158, Monnaies de la Principauté de Liège, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2024.

Link to:

Tournai (1590-95) 1/2 real d'or Fr-385

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