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CSNS Signature Sale 3099 5-7 May 2022
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France
Cambrai. Jean de Montluc silver Siege Klippe 20 Patards 1595 AU55 NGC, Van Loon-I-458, Mailliet-pg. 81, 6, Delm-Unl., Vanhoudt-Unl., Dup-Unl. 10.64gm. A truly exquisite siege issue, standing far above the level of execution most usually seen on the city's obsidional coinage, most of which was crudely produced from an alloy of copper and tin. Besieged by Spanish forces under the Count of Fuentes beginning on August 11, 1595, Cambrai had been in the hands of the Duke of Orleans since 1581. Hoping to receive the intervention of King Henri IV of France, the Dutch indeed received 17,000 from the Duke of Orleans, and the sovereign promise of Henri that he would save Cambrai or die on September 12. While the broke Henri attempted to raise funds for the campaign, Jean de Montluc, Lord Governor Balagny, attempted to introduce a system of copper issues to pay the local garrison. This, however, angered the people, who opened the gates to the Spanish in October.
Both the historical context and general lack of published information on this emission suggest that it may have had a special purpose with Governor Balagny's proposed system. Both the example plated by Vanhoudt and reproduced in Saunders and Vanhoudt's recent translation of Van Loon (see Plate XLVII in volume 1) illustrate a typically crude copper example. Van Loon's own line drawing shows a much sharper piece, more in-line with the present example. We know of one other piece in the auction record--ex. Huntington (no. 1001.1.18697)--which, though also certified AU55, showed far less detail in the stamps.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/france/france-cambrai-jean-de-montluc-silver-siege-klippe-20-patards-1595-au55-ngc-/a/3099-31733.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3099-05052022
HID02906262019
© 2022 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Cambrai. Jean de Montluc silver Siege Klippe 20 Patards 1595 AU55 NGC, Van Loon-I-458, Mailliet-pg. 81, 6, Delm-Unl., Vanhoudt-Unl., Dup-Unl. 10.64gm. A truly exquisite siege issue, standing far above the level of execution most usually seen on the city's obsidional coinage, most of which was crudely produced from an alloy of copper and tin. Besieged by Spanish forces under the Count of Fuentes beginning on August 11, 1595, Cambrai had been in the hands of the Duke of Orleans since 1581. Hoping to receive the intervention of King Henri IV of France, the Dutch indeed received 17,000 from the Duke of Orleans, and the sovereign promise of Henri that he would save Cambrai or die on September 12. While the broke Henri attempted to raise funds for the campaign, Jean de Montluc, Lord Governor Balagny, attempted to introduce a system of copper issues to pay the local garrison. This, however, angered the people, who opened the gates to the Spanish in October.
Both the historical context and general lack of published information on this emission suggest that it may have had a special purpose with Governor Balagny's proposed system. Both the example plated by Vanhoudt and reproduced in Saunders and Vanhoudt's recent translation of Van Loon (see Plate XLVII in volume 1) illustrate a typically crude copper example. Van Loon's own line drawing shows a much sharper piece, more in-line with the present example. We know of one other piece in the auction record--ex. Huntington (no. 1001.1.18697)--which, though also certified AU55, showed far less detail in the stamps.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/france/france-cambrai-jean-de-montluc-silver-siege-klippe-20-patards-1595-au55-ngc-/a/3099-31733.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3099-05052022
HID02906262019
© 2022 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved