Lot 525
Belgium -- Flanders (Low Countries). Gouden Leeuw, or Lion d'Or (Bruges, struck 1454-1460). Fr-185; Gelder/Hoc 3-2; Delm.-489; Coll. Vernier-41. 4.22 grams. Philip the Good, 1419-1467. Roaring lion seated left within ornate gothic dais. Reverse: Quartered arms of Flanders and Bourgogne supported on cross fleury. Excellent, detailed strike, far sharper than most known pieces. In vigorous style; lustrous and a really Choice example. NGC graded MS-62.
Philip, known as "the Good," was not particularly good in a moral sense. He vowed to go on a crusade to the Holy Land but never went. He recognized the claims of the English in France, then betrayed his alliance and supported the French king. Then he went against the French king, Charles VII, and supported his rebellious son, the Dauphin, later to become Louis XI. What he did accomplish through his machinations was to double the size of his territory. Perhaps "the Clever" would have been a more appropriate name. His coinage here is among the more exquisite issues of the age.
Estimated Value $4,000 - 5,000.
Illustrated in Money of The World, coin 86.
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| Realized $5,750 |
