Overijssel Stuiver

The Overijssel stuiver's most striking feature is its frequent counterfeiting, a testament to how even a lowly copper coin could tempt opportunists in 17th-century Europe.

That said, these coins were minted in Zwolle by the provincial authorities, typically bearing the Overijssel arms and sometimes a date in Roman numerals. We know they served everyday transactions in a region caught between Dutch independence and economic flux. Records are spotty; exact designs varied year to year, and not all issues included a mint mark.

One curiosity: the copper used might have come from recycled materials, though that's unconfirmed. Historians note these stuivers helped fund local defenses during turbulent times, but they weren't flashy.

Plenty of myths swirl about their rarity. Ignore them. They were common enough that a fire in 1838 destroyed many archives, leaving us guessing on precise numbers.

Collectors sometimes mix them up with similar issues from other provinces.

At least they didn't pretend to be worth more than a few pennies.