1650 Gold Ducat PCGS MS 62

The Dutch gold ducat was a key trade coin of the 17th century, valued for its consistent weight (≈3.5 g) and high purity (98.6% gold)

The obverse shows a standing knight holding a sword and a bundle of arrows, with the year split on either side of him. The arrows symbolize the unified provinces of the Netherlands (intended to be seven arrows, though early coins sometimes show 3-8 due to die cutter quirks). Surrounding the knight is the Latin motto "CONCORDIA RES PARVAE CRESCUNT", meaning "Through unity, small things grow"

The reverse displays an ornate squared cartouche with the inscription "MO. ORDI. PROVIN. FOEDER. BELG. AD. LEG. IMP." – an abbreviation of Moneta Ordinum Provinciarum Foederatarum Belgii Ad Legem Imperii. This translates to "Money of the Federated Provinces of the Netherlands, according to the law of the Empire"

Key features include:

• First issued in 1586 during the Dutch Republic's fight for independence
• Quickly gained acceptance in global commerce, becoming "the primary coin of international trade" in this era
• Shipped worldwide by Dutch traders and the VOC (Dutch East India Company), from the Baltic markets of Eastern Europe to colonies in Asia
• So widely trusted that foreign mints (notably Russia's St. Petersburg mint) counterfeited Dutch ducats for over a century

To put this in perspective, high-grade 1650 ducats are far rarer than most U.S. gold coins of comparable vintage. It's not unusual for a specific provincial issue and date to have fewer than 5 specimens graded MS62 or better between both PCGS and NGC combined. For instance, a 2016 Stack's Bowers auction noted the population across both services was just 3 coins in MS62 for a 1650 ducat, with only one example known finer (MS63 at NGC).

Netherlands Gold Ducat, W. Friesland. The Finest Known!  1/0