Netherlands

Beautiful historic silver coin 1762. (264 years old) Will be neatly packaged and shipped quickly via track and trace. Please read the history below of this coin. Please also read my reviews. • Metal: Silver (finest: 873/1000) • Weight: About 3.53 grams • Diameter: Approximately 21.5 to 22 mm • Mint location: Middelburg (Mint mark: Castle) • Assayer: Martinus Holtzhey Jr. • Catalog references: Verkade 87.4, CNM 2.49.55, KM# 98 In 1762 the States of Zeeland decided to add smaller silver coins to the existing series of whole and half silver ducats. They introduced the 1/4 ducat (in common parlance the "dertientje") and the 1/8 ducat, which earned the iconic nickname "Pietje". The name referred, in a somewhat mocking, folkish way, to the relatively small, 'cute' knight symbol on the obverse of the coin. The introduction, however, did not go without political intrigue: • Illegal production: The States-General (the central government of the Republic) officially gave no authorization for issuing these subcoins. • Political rebellion: Zeeland ignored the warnings and produced the coins nonetheless in the provincial mint in Middelburg. Because the central authority had neither means nor sanctions to force Zeeland to stop, the States-General had to reluctantly allow the coinage. • Function: Whereas the whole silver ducat was mainly intended for international (Eastern) trade, the Pietje was really intended to fill the shortage of small change on the domestic market. Production ultimately continued until 1793."

Estimate:£3.38

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