Overijssel Ducatoon

The Overijssel Ducatoon was one of the largest silver coins minted in the Dutch Republic, often weighing in at over 30 grams and rivaling the Spanish dollar for bulk.

This made it a practical choice for merchants dealing in bulk goods across the North Sea. Struck in Kampen or Deventer, it bore the provincial arms and the Dutch lion, symbols that asserted local pride amid the era's wars. Mintage figures are hazy; records from that time were spotty, and what's left is mostly guesswork from auction catalogs.

While some claim it was used to pay soldiers, that's likely exaggerated—most ended up in trade ledgers. The design varied little over its run from 1652 to 1690, with dies that wore out quickly on those thick planchets.

Over time, wear turned many into smooth relics, which numismatists like me appreciate for their patina, not their polish. As for myths, let's just say I've seen enough fakes to know the real ones when they land on my scale.

Plenty of these still turn up in hoards, a testament to their durability.