When a details coin looks better

The leeuwendaalder aka lion daalder was first minted in the province of Holland in 1575 during the revolt against Spanish rule. By 1581 the seven Northern provinces were able to gain their independence, forming the Dutch Republic, formally recognized by the Spanish Empire in 1648. Freed from the burden of supporting a monarchy, the Dutch became a trading powerhouse, developing a globe-spanning colonial empire and the largest merchant fleet in the 17th century. The lion daalder was minted in six provinces and several cities; as an early trade dollar, it circulated widely including the Middle East and the North American colonies (the Dutch colony of New Netherlands was ceded to England in 1664, its capital, New Amsterdam, was renamed New York). The coin picked up the nickname, "dog dollar", in the English colonies, probably because the rampant lion design on the reverse lost much of its distinguishing detail as it became worn.

Produced from roughly finished planchetes, these coins typically exhibit multiple weak areas. A common problem is the head of the knight. I've searched for nice examples but many, even those with AU/MS grades, are greatly lacking eye appeal. But then I came across this shipwreck salvage coin and I was immediately drawn to the strong detail of the obverse design and especially the face of the knight. The coin is attributed to the wreck of the Kampen, part of a Dutch East India Company convoy that sank in 1627. Although it grades AU details, I think it's one of the better examples of this historic Dutch trade dollar.

~jack

To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.