Dutch Silver Lion Dollar with Countermark, Holland 1589

Description

Denomination: 1 Silver thaler (daalder), milled

Period: Height of Dutch Republic for international trade

Date: 1589

Origin: Holland

Condition: AVF, with banker’s countermark on the reverse

Obverse: Armoured knight standing left, head turned right, in front of him a shield with the arms of Holland dividing the date, × MO × NO × ARG ORDIN × HOL ×
+ 1589 +

Reverse: Rampant lion to left in inner circle, mintmark (rose) at top, × CONFIDENS × DNO × NON × MOVETVR ×

Size and Weight: 41mm, 27g

References: Davenport 8838, Delmonte831, KM# 11

Features and Provenance:

The so called silver ‘Lion Dollar’ was produced by the Netherlands from 1575 and was designed for international trade. The Dutch were a dominant global trader during the 16th & 17th centuries and the coin was named a ‘daalder’ or ‘dollar’ and was widely used in the Dutch colonies such as New Amsterdam (New York); as such was effectively the first dollar of the New World. Its use waned in the 1700’s due to the Eighty Years War, but it was so popular that made a modern-day come back as a bullion restrike. Our coin, of course, is an original from 1589.

Condition Summary. This varies with the age of coin and there are grades between

Uncirculated (U). As struck with no traces of wear

Extremely Fine (EF). Very slight traces of wear; all parts of legend etc present, visible and clear

Very Fine (VF). Some signs of wear on the higher parts of the relief. all parts of legend etc present, but maybe worn

Fine (F). Wear on the coin and parts of legend etc may be missing or not visible