LOW COUNTRIES. Vlaanderen (Flanders). Lodewijk II van Male, 1346-1384. Gouden Lam – Mouton d'or (Gold, 30 mm, 4.41 g, 10 h), variety with 'I' after 'NOB'. Gand (Ghent) or Mechelen (Mechlin). ✠ AGn:DЄI:QVI:TOLL’:PCCA:mVDI:mISЄRЄRЄ:nOBI' Agnus Dei standing left, head upturned right, wearing nimbus crown and cradling banner on long cross fleurée; LVD' - CO:F' below; all within tressure of seventeen arcs. Rev. ✠ XP’C:VIИCIT:XP’C:RЄGИAT:XP’C:IMPЄRAT Cross fleurée and feuillue; in center of cross, cinquefoil within angled quadrilobe; eagles in quarters; all within angled quadrilobe; trefoils flanking angles. Delmonte 457 var. (slightly differing obverse legend). Friedberg 155 var. (slightly differing obverse legend). Vanhoudt G2601 (slightly differing obverse legend). Vanhoudt/Saunders 261 (slightly differing obverse legend). Very rare and in exceptional condition for the issue, a wonderful example of late Medieval art. Virtually as struck.



The Mouton d’or, also known as the Agnel or Aignel (‘lamb’ in French), gets its name from its iconic obverse depicting the Agnus Dei - Latin for 'Lamb of God'. Shown as the Paschal Lamb bearing the banner of victory, it symbolizes the resurrection of Jesus Christ and traces its origins back to the Old Testament, where the lamb played a central role as a sacrificial offering.

This popular gold coin was introduced around 1311 by Philip IV, King of France (1268-1314), and quickly gained wide circulation, inspiring many imitations. Among those who issued their own types of this coin were King Henry V of England (1386-1422), the Archbishopric of Cambrai, and Lodewijk II.

With a relatively large diameter and thin flan, this coin type is prone to damage. Well-preserved examples with sharp detail and no significant flaws - like the one shown here - are very rare.