Description
Dutch Republic, the Netherlands, Silver 3 Gulden (31.61g, 41mm), 1794, Utrecht mint. Obverse: Crowned Shield of Arms of the Dutch Republic, denomination either side, legend surrounds, “MO: ARG: ORD: FŒD: BELG: TRAI·”. Reverse: Dutch Virgin stands facing forward, head turned slightly to right, draped and cuirassed and wearing plumed helmet, holding spear in right hand, upon which the Cap of Liberty lies, and her right arm rests upon the Holy Bible which is set upon an ornamented pillar; date in exergue, legend surrounds, “HAC NITIMVR HANC TVEMVR”. Davenport-1852, KM-117. Despite a relatively common year, the offered piece is very sharp and well toned, the obverse light and the reverse a darker blue-grey, certainly a superior example and collectible as such, Extremely Fine or better.
Although the silver One Gulden was the chosen money piece mentioned within the Australian Proclamation document of 1800 by Philip Gidley King, the Governor of New South Wales, the fractionals and higher denominations are accepted as part of the ‘wider series’. Therefore, within Colonial Australia, the Dutch Three Gulden had a theoretical revaluation to Six Shillings.
The Obverse Latin legend reads “Monēta argentea ōrdinum foederātum Belgiī trāiectum”, with an English meaning of “Silver money of the unified Provinces of the Netherlands, Traiectum (Utrecht)”. The Reverse Latin legend reads “hāc nītimur hanc tuēmur”, with an English meaning of “On her we lean, her we preserve”.