Description
Batavian Republic, the Dutch East Indies, Gold Specimen-Strike Half Gulden or ‘½ Scheepjesgulden’ (6.27g, 27mm), 1802, Enkhuizen mint, Province of Holland. Obverse: Shield of Arms of the Batavian Republic (comprising a rampant Lion left, crowned, armed, and langued, holding sword in dexter paw and bundle of seven arrows, representing the seven united provinces, in sinister paw) surmounted by the Heraldic Crown of the Batavian Republic, denomination “I/2 G” to field either side, inner roped border and legend surrounds, “MO : ARG : ORD : FŒD : BELG : HOL:”. Reverse: Dutch Driemaster (three-masted ship) in full sail right, flowing ocean waves below, all within inner roped border, date within simple parentheses below, legend surrounds, “INDIÆ BATAVORUM”. Scholten-491; cf. KM-82 (for silver issue); Friedberg-. Of the utmost quality and scarcity, the rare ‘Off-Metal’ specimen strike in gold Half Gulden of the 1802 Ship series, some reverse wiping lines and minor die rust to obverse, else basically Fleur de Coin, very rare.
The obverse Latin legend reads “Monēta argentea ōrdinum foederātum belgicārum, Hollandiae”, with an English meaning of “Silver money of the united Provinces of the Netherlands, of Holland”. The reverse Latin legend reads “Indiae Batāvōrum”, with an English translation of “Of the Dutch Indies”.
