$2,784.00 USD
In the annals of maritime history, few treasures are as evocative as those linked to shipwrecks. The 1724 Netherlands Gold Ducat, recovered from the fabled wreck of the Akerendam, is a gleaming relic of an era when the seas were highways of trade, power, and peril. Graded NGC MS62, this coin carries the mystique of a journey interrupted, its brilliance preserved beneath the ocean for nearly three centuries.
The obverse of this gold ducat features the enduring figure of a knight in full armor, standing as a sentinel of the Dutch Republic’s sovereignty and strength. Clutching a sword and a bundle of arrows symbolizing unity, he represents the resilience and independence of the Seven United Provinces. Encircling him is the Latin legend “MO ORDIN FO BELG PRO”, abbreviated from Moneta Ordinum Foederati Belgii Provinciarum—“Coin of the Federated Provinces of the Netherlands.” The intricate detail of the knight’s armor and posture, sharply struck and minimally worn, attests to the craftsmanship of Dutch mints at the height of their influence.
Flipping the coin reveals a reverse design of elegant simplicity: a Latin cross dividing the date, 1724, and surrounded by the inscription “CONCORDIA RES PARVAE CRESCUNT”—“Through Unity, Small Things Grow.” This enduring motto of the Dutch Republic encapsulates the cooperative spirit that transformed a small nation into a global maritime power. The coin’s golden fields shimmer with a luster befitting its high MS62 grade, the surfaces displaying minimal marks from its tumultuous journey and centuries of submersion.
The story of the Akerendam itself adds a layer of intrigue to this already remarkable coin. Launched in 1724 as part of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) fleet, the Akerendam set sail for the East Indies carrying a fortune in gold and silver. Tragedy struck that same year when the ship was wrecked in a violent storm off the coast of Norway. For over 250 years, its treasure lay undisturbed beneath the waves until its discovery in 1972. Coins like this ducat, recovered from the icy depths, are tangible reminders of the risks and rewards of global commerce during the Age of Exploration.
Graded NGC MS62, this ducat stands out for its remarkable state of preservation, considering its long underwater rest. The details remain sharp, and the fields retain much of their original brilliance, interrupted only by faint marks that speak to its incredible journey through time.
To own this 1724 Netherlands Gold Ducat Akerendam is to hold a piece of maritime and numismatic history—a coin that once symbolized the ambitions of the Dutch Republic, now a treasure rescued from the depths. Its gleaming surface carries the weight of centuries, a golden testament to a bygone age of exploration, trade, and adventure.
