Description
Dutch Republic, the Netherlands, Gold Ducat (3.47g, 21mm), 1781, Dordrecht mint, Holland. Obverse: Dutch Knight stands facing to the right, adorned in studded armour and wearing modestly plumed helmet, wielding sword in right hand which rests on his shoulder and holding a bundle of seven arrows, which represents the seven united provinces of the Netherlands, aloft in his left, date to field either side, legend surrounds, “CONCORDIA· RES PAR· CRES· HOL·”. Reverse: Legend central in five lines within square panel framed within ornate mantle, “MO: ORD: PROVIN. FOEDER BELG· AD LEG· IMP.”. KM-12.3; Friedberg-250. Slight wave to flan, typical of the type, very minor contact marks, attractive as usual, good Very Fine.
The gold ducat of the Dutch Republic was one of the denominations chosen during the Australian Proclamation of 1800 by Philip Gidley King, the Governor of New South Wales. It was given to a high face value of Nine Shillings Six Pence in order to disincentivize the removal of currency from within the Australian colonies. This coin, although a type struck as currency for use within the Netherlands, is still considered a partof Australia’s early colonial history as a proclamation piece.
The Obverse Latin legend reads “Concordia rēs parvæ crescent, Hollandiae”, with an English translation of “Small things thrive/come to be through unity, Holland mint”. The Reverse Latin legend reads “Monēta ōrdinum prōvinciārum foederātōrum Belgicārum ad lēgem imperiī”, with an English translation of “Series of Coinage of the Provincial Federation of Belgium in comformity to the Imperial Law”.