Moneta's Temple and Gallery

Netherlands East Indies - 1/10 Gulden 1942S

Moneta — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 14:04:03 -0500

by: Moneta

Description: I just rarely see these offered even though it has a large mintage of 75 M, with many other years striking huge numbers as well.

Netherlands 2 1/2 Cent 1941

Moneta — Sun, 23 Aug 2020 19:42:32 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: Under Wilhelmina I. War issue zinc coin with interesting Nordic design.

Netherlands Ducat - 1781

Moneta — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 23:37:00 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: With the Dutch arrival on the world stage as a major trading power they became aware of the need for a standardized trade coinage. This was particularly true after the creation of the Dutch East India Company (VOC), in 1602. This trade coinage became highly successful due to the Ducats' consistent weight and purity. From 1586 to 1816 this standard Dutch design ducat was set at 3.515 g. and a fineness of 0.986. This was lowered slightly in 1817. The obverse of the Netherlands gold ducat shows a knight to the right, holding a bunch of arrows in the left hand and a sword in the right hand. The obverse legend (which is also their motto), "Concordia Res Parvae Crescunt," is Latin for “Union makes small things grow”. The last letters of the obverse legends indicate the mint where coin was minted, in this case TRA for the Utrecht mint. Six other mints also minted the ducat at various times accounting for the seven provinces of the Republic. The knight usually holds seven bundled arrows, a design element adopted from the Spanish monarchs. The ornamental reverse features a square with the following abbreviated words: MO: ORD: PROVIN: FOEDER: BELG. AD. LEG . IMP. It is a Latin text for Moneta Ordinum Provinciarum Foederatarum Belgii Ad Legem Imperii. Which translated as: “A coin of the provinces of the United Netherlands according to the law of the Empire”. These coins are still being minted, making this trade ducat the oldest continuously minted coin maintaining the same design. They've been around for over 430 years! To read a more complete history of this historic coin see this Coinweek (26 Sep 2016) article at this https://coinweek.com/world-coins/world-gold-coins-2/world-coins-history-netherlands-gold-ducat-began/

Siege of Maastricht 100 Stuivers - 1794

Moneta — Fri, 20 Jul 2018 21:05:44 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: This short siege issue during the French Revolutionary Wars was issued by the Austrian defenders of Maastricht in the Austrian Netherlands. It was the Prince of Hesse-Kassel who had this siege coin issued. This area of the Netherlands, at the time was, under the control of the Austrians. The siege of Maastricht of 19 September - 4 November 1794 saw the French capture one of the last Austrian-held strongholds close to the Austrian Netherlands, completing the French conquest of the area. The Austrian position in the Austrian Netherlands began to fall apart after the French victory at Fleurus on 26 June. The Austrian army retreated back to Brussels, and then east to take up a position on the Meuse, while the French concentrated on recovering their border fortresses, lost earlier in the year. Only in August did the French begin to threaten the new Austrian position, and the campaign did not get underway seriously until September. The start date of the siege is unclear, because when the French first approached the city it was part of the Austrian front line on the Meuse, defended by General Clerfayt. Perhaps the best date to adopt is 19 September, the day after Clerfayt was forced to retreat from the Meuse by the French victory in the battle of the Outhre (18 September). This left the 8,000 strong garrison of Maastricht isolated, and the French imposed a blockade. The main French army, including General Kléber's divisions, then moved east to attack the Austrian lines on the Roer (battle of the Roer, 2 October 1794). Only after that battle was Kléber free to return to Maastricht to conduct a more vigorous siege. Kléber began by summoning the town to surrender, but the governor, the Prince of Hesse-Kassel refused. At this early stage in the siege the French lacked a siege train, and Kléber was not provided with adequate guns until 23 October. The bombardment itself began on 1 November. By now it was clear that there was little chance of a relief army appearing, and on 4 November the city surrendered. This coin image is used to more completely document coinage stemming from the French Revolutionary Wars that appeared over wide areas of Europe. In less than two months of active siege activity the Austrians in Maastricht had completely used up their coinage, or it had been hoarded, thus necessitating an emergency coinage. While other sieges (see the 'Revolution!' category in "Special Projects") made bronze coinage, notoriously often of church bells, here the emergency coinage is silver. Perhaps of church property or confiscated/donated individual holdings of silverware, etc. This historical coin is not physically in the Moneta Museum and is sourced from WikiCommons as an image used in a Steve Album auction.

Netherlands - Batavian Republic 1G 1795

Moneta — Sat, 04 Feb 2017 14:30:17 -0500

by: Moneta

Description: The French Revolutionary Wars progressed into the Netherlands after the fall of resistance in Luxembourg and the defeat of Prussia & allies there. The Batavian Republic was established over portions of the Netherlands, which was already considered a republic. Obverse legend: MO : ARG : ORD : FAED: BELG : HOLL; except for the FAED (w/'AE' conjoined) everything matches KM# 8.2 for 1795. Here's the exclusive information from a Netherlands coin dealer: The guldens from the Batavian Republic period were struck by five different provinces: - Gelderland: 1795 & 1796: KM# 8.1 - Holland: 1795, 1797 & 1800: KM# 8.2 - Overijssel: 1795 & 1796: KM# 8.3 - Utrecht: 1795, 1798 & 1799: KM# 8.4 - West-Friesland: 1795 & 1796: KM# 8.5 According to Krause it should be FOE, but this is based on the 1797 gulden, which was struck at a different city (these pieces have a star after the date). The 1795 pieces usually have FAE(D) and not FOE in its obverse legend. The Batavian Republic (Dutch: Bataafse Republiek; French: République Batave) was the successor of the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands. It was proclaimed on 19 January 1795, and ended on 5 June 1806, with the accession of Louis I to the throne of Holland. In early 1795, intervention by French revolutionary forces led to the downfall of the old Dutch Republic. The new Republic enjoyed widespread support from the Dutch population and was the product of a genuine popular revolution. Nevertheless, it clearly was founded with the armed support of the revolutionary French Republic. The Batavian Republic became a client state, the first of the "sister-republics" and later part of the French Empire of Napoleon Bonaparte, and its politics were deeply influenced by the French who supported no fewer than three coups d'état to bring the different political factions to power that France favored at different moments in its own political development. Nevertheless, the process of creating a written Dutch constitution was mainly driven by internal political factors, not by French influence, until Napoleon forced the Dutch government to accept his brother as monarch. (Wikipedia) The Dutch Maiden (Dutch: Nederlandse Maagd) is a national personification of the Netherlands. She is typically depicted in a Roman garment and with a lion, the Leo Belgicus, by her side. In addition to the symbol of a national maiden, there were also symbolic provincial maidens and town maidens. On 25 May 1694, the States of Holland and West Friesland introduced a uniform coin design for the United Provinces, showing a Dutch Maiden leaning on a bible placed on an altar and holding a lance with the Cap of Liberty. During the French occupation, the short-lived Batavian Republic adopted the Dutch Maiden as its main symbol. The symbol was depicted on the upper left corner of the Batavian Republic's flag, with a lion at her feet. In one hand, she holds a shield with the Roman fasces and in the other a lance crowned with the cap of liberty. (Wikipedia)

Netherlands 5 Cent Zinc - 1943

Moneta — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 18:42:59 -0500

by: Moneta

Description: Nazi occupied Netherlands issue for 1943. It's presented here to compare with the fantasy 5 Cents struck on copper-nickel. This is the normal issue for the scarcer year where only 7 million were minted. This coin is smaller and thicker than the error coin. To the inside of the grain bunch stems you can see a privy mark (caduseus). This 5 Cent issue was not struck in the USA.

Netherlands Fantasy 5 Cent

Moneta — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 16:08:06 -0500

by: Moneta

Description: This is a "fantasy" coin probably struck in the 1960's. Originals are always struck on 100% zinc planchets. In zinc they weigh about 3.7 gm but this one is 5.11 gm. I checked to see if this one was part of the issues struck by the USA but the USA did not strike 5 cent coins for the Netherlands and did not strike any of their coins until 1943 (unacknowledged by the US Mint until 1944). There are no privy marks or mint marks on this coin. Diameter and thickness also vary from the standard zinc coin.

St. Lambert - Liege 1686

Moneta — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 00:38:12 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: Low Countries; OB: ANNIVERSARIVM; skull & crossed bones - 1686. RX: ECCLESI LEODI; crossed bones with two flames. St. Lambert Charity token of the Netherlands area (Liege). The thousand year anniversary of when Pepin, King of the Franks, allowed Lambert to return to his Holy See at Maestricht. St. Hubert was sent to Rome on a pilgrimage by St. Lambert (~A.D. 640-705); while there St. Lambert was martyred and Hubert was designated bishop by the Pope. Upon his return St. Hubert built a magnificent church at Liege and had St. Lambert's remains interred there. The diocese seat was moved there and the the city soon grew in size & stature. St. Lambert is the patron of many large churches. Rare type without lower jaw on skull. Eklund # 85; Neumann II 13920. CU Moreau (21mm, 4.8g). Dated 1686. Two bones crossed in saltire; flame above and below / Skull 3/4 facing; below, two bones crossed in saltire. Ek. 85. BELGIUM. Luik (Liège). Chapter of St. Lambert's Cathedral bronze Méreau or Communion Token. Struck late 17th century. Used for the receiving of food during feast day celebrations. My write-up: Saint Lambert Charity Token Prince-Bishopric of Liège, 1686 VIEW & DOWNLOAD: The recent article I wrote for the March/April 2023 issue of Numismatics International's journal, the "NI BULLETIN" can be obtained at this: http://www.moneta-coins.com/library/St_Lambert%20Charity%20Token_NIB_3_23.pdf The exact nature of this ecclesiastical token can not be definitively known today. Church-related tokens are known since the late 16th century and were used for various functions. These can be charity tokens distributed by the church to be used to regulate food, or other goods, given to the poor, particularly on feast days. They can also be attendance or communion tokens, also used to regulate access to certain church functions. Often those tokens are rather generic, are of simple design, and express a pious sentiment. Here, with this St. Lambert Cathedral token, we have certain design elements that promise a more interesting story. The obverse features a rather iconic skull and crossed bones design below the word ANNIVERSARIVM and the date 1686. The reverse has the words ECCLESI LEODI (Church of Liège) above and below a larger set of crossed femur bones with flames above and below that. So, that was enough to whet my appetite to know more, thinking that it might be related to the Jolly Roger of pirate fame, a romantic notion that proved to be just that. The ‘skull and cross bones’ can be seen on some Roman and early Christian tombs. The Knights Templar used it around the 13th century and, yes, the pirates on the Spanish Main used variations of it in their heyday. More recently the Nazi SS Death’s Heads Units (Schutzstaffel SS-Totenkopfverbände), responsible for running concentration and extermination camps, used the Totenkopf symbol on their caps and collar tabs. Currently, the Skull and Bones Society at Yale University, with many members of the rich and famous, add intrigue to their secret society with the use of this macabre and sinister emblem. The token’s reverse legend, ECCLESI LEODI, fixes this token to the Church of Liège (Belgium today) where Saint-Lambert (~640 – ~705 A.D.) has been the patron saint since his tragic death. The one-thousandth anniversary of when Pepin, King of the Franks, allowed Lambert to return to his Holy See at Maastricht was around 1687. St. Lambert served as the Bishop of Maastricht and later, Liège, where he is still celebrated as a martyr and patron saint, having defended the fidelity of marriage and not succumbing to Merovingian politics. Though buried at Maastricht, his successor, Saint Hubertus, had his relics removed and enshrined at Liège. St. Hubert was sent to Rome on a pilgrimage by St. Lambert; while there St. Lambert was martyred and Hubert was designated bishop by the Pope. Upon his return, St. Hubert built a magnificent cathedral at Liege and had St. Lambert’s remains interred there. The diocese seat was moved there and the city soon grew in size and stature. While the details are historically sketchy we do know that St. Lambert’s main claim to fame, beyond the miracles he performed, was that he admonished the Merovingian Duke Pepin II (Pepin of Herstal) for infidelity with a noblewoman named Alpaida. This illicit union was responsible for the birth of Charles Martel (“The Hammer”) who became Pepin’s successor, finishing his work to unite all the Frankish kingdoms and becoming the first King of the Franks. Naturally, this public humiliation and admonishment were frowned upon by Pepin and Alpaida, among others, and they had St. Lambert and two of his relatives murdered (~ 705 – 709 A.D.). Charles Martel (c. 688 – 22 October 741), among his other accomplishments, gained a very consequential victory against an Umayyad invasion of Aquitaine at the Battle of Tours, at a time when the Umayyad Caliphate controlled most of the Iberian Peninsula. Upon his death, the Frankish Kingdom was split between his two sons, Carloman and Pepin (the Short, aka, the Younger). Charles Martel laid the foundations for his son Pepin’s rise to the Frankish throne in 751, and his grandson Emperor Charlemagne’s, imperial acclamation in 800. This copper token is referenced in the booklet by O.P. Eklund’s “Charity Tokens Of The Netherlands”, 1948, as EK# 85. There are several varieties documented, some with dates, some without, beginning around 1635 to perhaps 1705. On some, the skull faces forward and on others, the 3/4 facing skull can be to the left or right. Others depict the skull centered on top of the crossed femur bones. I’m not sure that Eklund was able to document all of the varieties. A complete variety collection would be difficult to assemble but would present a very skully display.

St. Lambert - Liege 1686

Moneta — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 00:38:12 -0400