BELGIQUE - BELGIUM Flanders, Ghent (Republic of, 1577-1584). Noble Or the banner of François d'Alençon 1582, Ghent. Av (at 2 o'clock) MO. - .AVREA. RESTAVR. METROPOL. GAND - .FLAND. The King standing frontally in a nave, holding raised sword and shield, a pavilion to left. Letters N and T above in field. Rv. (lion). NISI. DNS. CVSTOD. CIVITAT. FRVSTRA. VIGILATVR. (date). Cross leaved and fleurdelisé cantoned of four leopards under crowns, the whole in an octolobe. Delm.530 - VH.426 - Fr.242 ; Gold - 6,8 g - 32 mm - 11 h Top Pop: this is the only graded example! PCGS MS64 (55951691). With three lilies in the banner for François d'Alençon. Of broad flan and great freshness, with the original lustre barely burnished in the fields. Rare. Superb at Fleur de coin. The city of Ghent, in the hands of radical Protestants, revolted against Philip II and became an independent Calvinist republic. It minted nobles, half-nobles and quarter-nobles for François d'Alençon in 1581 and 1582, with the banner of the lilies, then the banner of the two joined hands in 1582 and finally with the banner of the lion in 1583, before the city was taken again by the Spaniards commanded by Alexander Farnese.