Image: Wikimedia Commons · Herman Moll · Public domain
Friesland Gold Coin
Netherlands
1580–1600
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Estimated Melt Value
$530.60
Based on Gold spot price ($4,795.98/oz) · 98.6% purity · 3.49g
Updated 6:41 PM
Collector premium not included
Specifications
| Country | Netherlands |
| Years Minted | 1580–1600 |
| Composition | 98.6% gold |
| Weight | 3.49 g |
| Diameter | 21 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Plain |
Design
Obverse
A knight standing facing, holding a sword and a bundle of arrows.
Reverse
The arms of the issuing authority within a beaded circle.
History & Notable Facts
The Friesland gold coin's most striking feature is its use of high-purity gold, often sourced from plundered Spanish ships during the Eighty Years' War—a poetic twist for a province fighting for independence.
These coins, minted in Leeuwarden between 1581 and 1598, bore the Frisian arms on one side and a rampant lion on the other. That's typical for provincial issues in the Netherlands at the time. We know the designs evolved slightly, reflecting local pride amid political turmoil.
Exact mintage figures are murky; records from that era were spotty, and many were destroyed in later conflicts. What survives shows these were likely used for international trade, given Friesland's port access.
Handling one feels solid, a reminder that gold doesn't lie. As for myths about hidden treasures, I've heard enough.
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