Chaponnière & Firmenich SA
Auction 15 21 May 2022
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HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE. Rudolf II, 1576-1612. 5 Ducats ND, Prague. « Three Emperors » type. Mintmaster Benedikt Huebmer. Obv. MAXI I CARO V ET FERD D G ROM CAES REG HISP. Crowned busts of Maximilian II, Charles Quint, and Ferdinand I right wearing the collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece right. Rev. + HVNG BO DAL CRO zc ARCHID AVST DV BVRG. Double-headed eagle above coat of arms. Dietiker 552; Fr. 14e. AU. 17.15 g. (coin) and 63.36 g. (84 cm long gold chain).F-VF holed, mounted
From César Constant de Rebecque (1777-1868) and his ancestors. The mounting was applied to the coin not long after it was struck. Sold with a framed miniature of César Constant de Rebecque adorned with a jewel, similar to the one described here (16x14 cm for the frame, 9.5x8 cm for the miniature). According to family lore, this is the example offered in this sale.
Born in Lausanne in 1777, César Constant de Rebecque was a member of a very old French noble family belonging to the class of the Nobles of the Sword from the region of Aire in Artois. Their title of Baron de Rebecque was created in 1213. Throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, this family maintained a great military tradition and provided a large number of officers. They notably fought on the side of Henri IV. Converted to Protestantism during the 16th century and following the Wars of Religion and the passage of Artois into the possession of the Habsburgs, the family emigrated to various European countries: the Netherlands, Ireland and especially Switzerland. One of the members, Augustin Constant de Rebecque, settled in Geneva in 1567, then in Lausanne in 1590, and the family was granted the title of "Bourgeois" de Lausanne in 1614.
Maintaining strong ties with France, the Constant de Rebecque family continued to provide a large number of officers to the monarchy. In particular, they commanded the famous elite regiment of the Cents-Suisses (Swiss mercenaries).
It is plausible that this eminent family of soldiers obtained this rare "Three Emperors" 5 Ducats coin in gratitude for services rendered during the first and second Wars of Religion, during these battles that bloodied the kingdom of France and the Spanish Netherlands. (Antoine Constant de Rebecque was a member of Charles V's entourage and took part in all the Emperor's wars, his son Augustin Constant de Rebecque, who converted to Protestantism, served Jeanne d'Albret and Henri IV before settling in Switzerland).
It is rare to be able to associate an object with a pictorial representation. In this case, this miniature is precious evidence of the long-standing presence of this 5 Ducats in the possession of the same family.
From César Constant de Rebecque (1777-1868) and his ancestors. The mounting was applied to the coin not long after it was struck. Sold with a framed miniature of César Constant de Rebecque adorned with a jewel, similar to the one described here (16x14 cm for the frame, 9.5x8 cm for the miniature). According to family lore, this is the example offered in this sale.
Born in Lausanne in 1777, César Constant de Rebecque was a member of a very old French noble family belonging to the class of the Nobles of the Sword from the region of Aire in Artois. Their title of Baron de Rebecque was created in 1213. Throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, this family maintained a great military tradition and provided a large number of officers. They notably fought on the side of Henri IV. Converted to Protestantism during the 16th century and following the Wars of Religion and the passage of Artois into the possession of the Habsburgs, the family emigrated to various European countries: the Netherlands, Ireland and especially Switzerland. One of the members, Augustin Constant de Rebecque, settled in Geneva in 1567, then in Lausanne in 1590, and the family was granted the title of "Bourgeois" de Lausanne in 1614.
Maintaining strong ties with France, the Constant de Rebecque family continued to provide a large number of officers to the monarchy. In particular, they commanded the famous elite regiment of the Cents-Suisses (Swiss mercenaries).
It is plausible that this eminent family of soldiers obtained this rare "Three Emperors" 5 Ducats coin in gratitude for services rendered during the first and second Wars of Religion, during these battles that bloodied the kingdom of France and the Spanish Netherlands. (Antoine Constant de Rebecque was a member of Charles V's entourage and took part in all the Emperor's wars, his son Augustin Constant de Rebecque, who converted to Protestantism, served Jeanne d'Albret and Henri IV before settling in Switzerland).
It is rare to be able to associate an object with a pictorial representation. In this case, this miniature is precious evidence of the long-standing presence of this 5 Ducats in the possession of the same family.