2017-10-10 Tue

The Dutch Lion taler was a very significant trade coin during the 1600s and 1700s. The Royal Dutch Mint has issued a silver bullion coin celebrating the popular design.

The Dutch trade coin called Lionthaler, or Leeuwendaalder appeared for the first time in 1575 during Holland’s War of Independence against Spain. Each of the seven free provinces struck different types of coins. It was initially used locally but later on went on to become the most widely used trade coins in the Mediterranean. A number of other countries like Italy and German states started minting their own versions after the coins gained popularity.

The coin weighed 27 or 28 grams, measured about 42 millimetres in diameter was made of .870 fine silver. Experts state that silver was poorly mixed, planchets were not treated with care, and no collar was used when striking while minting many of these original dollars.

People were importing silver from Spain and the Americas and quickly using them to make trade coins. The lion dollar was equal to the Spanish-American cob.

Designs from a 1617 coin issued at a province of the Netherlands called Utrecht is replicated on the latest bullion coins. The 1-ounce .999 fine silver coin has a mintage limit of 25,000 pieces.

The obverse features a standing knight. A shield with a lion found on Dutch and Belgian coats of Arms, is placed in front. There are two circles of beadwork at the edge. The inscription within this beadwork reads MO. ARG. PRO. CONFOE. BELG, which is a short form for “Moneta Argentea Provinciarum Confoederatum Belgicarum,” or “Silver money of the Province of the Netherlands”. There is another inscription at the end - TRA which is for Utrecht.

The reverse features a larger version of the same heraldic lion. Like the obverse design, the reverse also features a similar beadwork. Within the beadwork is a legend, the date of issue, 2017, and the motto of the United Provinces, CONFIDENS. DNO. NON. MOVETVR, or “Who trusts in the Lord is not moved”. Other inscriptions include the metal, weight and fineness.