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Obolos 30

17 December 2023
Webauction

overview

Rare 1/2 Gouden Leeuw Weight

Starting Price: 50 CHF
Hammer Price:  320 CHF
Lot 818

LOW COUNTRIES. Antwerpen. Late 16th century. Weight of 1/2 Gouden Leeuw (Bronze, 15 x 15 mm, 2.01 g, 7 h), manufactured by Hans Fonck (or Fonq) of Antwerp, 1594. Lion seated left below richly ornamented arch, his right forepaw raised. Rev. 9 - 4 / H- F Raised right hand (or glove) within wreath. Cf. Withers, Coin-Weights of Europe 2, p.127 for maker and p.132 for type. Coin-weights for 1/2 Gouden Leeuw issues are very scarce, while such for full or 2/3 denominations are sometimes showing up in auctions. Small areas of weak striking, otherwise, good very fine.



The lion on the obverse refers to the design of the Gouden Leeuw coins of Flanders. Judging by the weight of our specimen, this coin-weight must have represented 1/2 Gouden Leeuw, rather than belonging to the well-known group of weights for 2/3 Gouden Leeuw coins.

Of course, the lion with raised forepaw was (and still is) used as a symbol of the Low Countries in general, e.g. the famous Leo Belgicus, introduced into cartography by Michael von Eitzing (sometimes spelled as 'Aitzing') in 1583 and picked up by many others.

Online bidding closes: 17 Dec 2023, 20:49:00 CET Current Date & Time: 27 Apr 2024, 08:25:23 CEST Remaining Time: Closed Hammer Price:320 CHF by MailBidder2339 (14 bids)
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