1/2 Noble - Philip the Good

Philip the Good authorized this fractional noble as part of a broader monetary reorganization following his consolidation of Flemish authority in the early 1420s. The noble itself was an English import — Edward III's gold noble had so thoroughly dominated North Sea trade that Flemish and Burgundian mints were effectively compelled to produce compatible denominations to remain relevant in the commercial circuits connecting Bruges, London, and the Hanseatic ports.

The .995 fineness is notable. Philip maintained gold standards at near-purity partly to sustain Bruges's credibility as a financial center, where merchant confidence depended on predictable coin quality.