Maastricht Silver Patard

Struck during the Eighty Years' War, the Maastricht Silver Patard was one of the few coins minted in a city that changed hands multiple times between Dutch rebels and Spanish forces.

These silver pieces, weighing around 2.5 grams, typically bore the arms of the Duchy of Brabant on the obverse and a cross on the reverse. They were produced in Maastricht from 1579 into the early 17th century, using standard silver alloys of the era.

Records of exact mintage figures are spotty; what survived suggests production varied by year, but much was lost in later conflicts. Some planchets may have been sourced from recycled foreign coins, a practical measure in wartime.

The design echoes earlier Burgundian patterns, making it easy to mistake for coins from allied or enemy states.

In numismatics, it's a reminder that coins don't choose sides.