Zeeland Silver Testoon

The Zeeland Silver Testoon's shaved-head design on its obverse shows a ruler with a stark, unadorned face—likely a nod to the Protestant simplicity sweeping the Netherlands in the mid-16th century.

That design choice wasn't just aesthetic. These coins were struck on planchets sourced from recycled silver, often including melted-down Spanish reales captured during skirmishes, blending enemy metal into local currency.

Mintage figures remain murky; records from Zeeland's mints were probably destroyed in later conflicts, so we can't pin down exact numbers. What we do know is that production spanned roughly 1550 to 1580, with variations in weight and purity reflecting the era's economic turmoil.

Some collectors debate whether the shaved head symbolized defiance against Catholic excess. It's a theory, not a fact.

Minting these was no easy task. Errors crept in, like off-center strikes that made the head look even more lopsided than intended.