Friesland Gold Coin obverseObverse

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

CountryNetherlands
Years Minted1580–1600
Composition98.6% gold
Weight3.49 g
Diameter21 mm
ShapeRound
EdgePlain

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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AI Analysis & Price Prediction

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