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Thu February 26, 2004 17:09
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Hi Tony T,
You have a coinweight from Antwerp by the otherwise unknown A Janssen. The weight is from 1540-1575, can only be dated this loosely on the basis of certain developments. They did not require a date before 1576. The 1540 date is a guess.
The weight shows Saint Michael slaying the dragon, the Good defeating the Bad, in terms of symbolism. Depending on its mass, it may be for the full angel (5.184 g) or the half angel gold coin (2.592g).
Antwerp was the financial capital of Europe until the Spaniards mucked things up persuing people for their non-Catholic faith. When the troops did not get paid in 1577 they marauded ("Spanish fury") and you can imagine what happens when soldiers go berserk.
This started the exodus of a great deal of talent, trade, etc to the North, i.e. today's The Netherlands and Amsterdam became the leading financial capital afterwards.
coinwate
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