Aire-sur-la-Lys Beseiged
Ex Archer M. Huntington Collection
HSA 1001.1.3438

CNG 94, Lot: 1725. Estimate $3000. Sold for $3250. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

FRANCE, Aire-sur-la-Lys. AR 8 Livres (20 Sols) Klippe (30mm, 9.38 g). Siege issue. Dated 1641. LVD. XIII/REX PIVS/IVSTVS/INVICTVS./ARIA VNO Ao/BIS OBSES./1641 in seven lines; all within quadrate linear and pelleted border / Blank, but with slight incuse square. Brause-Mansfeld, pl. 9, 1; Maillet 4; van Loon II, 254. VF, toned, a few deposits.

Ex Archer M. Huntington Collection (Numismatica Genevensis SA VII, 27 November 2012), lot 648 (HSA 1001.1.3438).

Located in the County of Artois, which became part of the Spanish Netherlands under the Union of Arras in 1579, Aire-sur-la-Lys was besieged twice during the Franco-Spanish War (1635-1659), both times in 1641. In June of that year, the Spanish were besieged by French troops under the command of Charles de la Porte, Marquis de Meilleraye, Maréchal de France.