1702 Gold Duit 2 Ducat Weight NGC MS62

Issued by the province of Holland in the early 18th century, this 1702 gold duit is a highly unusual and ceremonial piece. Rather than a standard copper duit (~3.8 grams), this example was struck on a planchet of approximately two ducats' weight (~6.9 grams of .986 fine gold), marking it as a prestige or presentation issue likely made to showcase mint craftsmanship during the onset of the War of Spanish Succession.

Obverse: Depicts a rampant lion holding a liberty cap on a pole, within a stylized fenced “garden” motif — emblematic of the Dutch Republic’s ideals of freedom, independence, and civic security.

Reverse: Inscribed with “HOLLANDIA 1702”, featuring a small flower (rosette) mintmark of the Dordrecht Mint, confirming its provincial origin.

Graded NGC MS62, this coin is a Mint State survivor with strong detail and luster, exhibiting only minor contact marks. Given that most known examples are in far lower grades (if surviving at all), this is among the finest known specimens. Such coins were never intended for circulation, and their rarity is compounded by their historical context and exceptional preservation. This gold duit is a tangible link to the economic power and artistic refinement of the Dutch Republic at its height.