Holland Daalder

The Holland Daalder was frequently struck on planchets recycled from melted Spanish reales, a practical reuse of enemy silver during the Dutch Revolt.

That made sense in a time when resources were scarce and spoils plentiful. Issued by the Holland province from 1575 onward, this silver coin served as a workhorse of commerce, roughly equivalent to 30 stuivers. Its design was straightforward: a rampant lion on the obverse, arms on the reverse, with variations in mint marks reflecting local production. Not every year saw output; some were skipped due to wars or economic shifts.

Mintage figures? Often lost to history, like so many records in old Dutch archives. After handling these for decades, you hear the same myths—hidden codes, royal curses. They were just coins, really.