$3,192.00 USD
The Utrecht ducat was a trade gold coin of the Dutch Republic's province of Utrecht, part of a long-running series (1586–1816) with an unchanged weight (approximately 3.51 grams, .986 fine) and design. This remarkable consistency helped establish the Dutch ducat as one of the most trusted and widely accepted gold trade coins of its era.
The obverse shows a right-facing armored knight holding a sword and a bundle of arrows, with the date on either side (in this example "17" and "58"), and the Latin motto "CONCORDIA RES PARVAE CRESCUNT" around it (meaning "Union makes small things grow"). The seven arrows in the knight's hand symbolize the seven United Provinces, representing their collective strength through unity. The obverse legend ends in "TRA" or "TRAI" (as on the 1758 coin) to denote the Utrecht mint. The mintmaster's sign on this 1758 issue is a distinctive rose.
The reverse of the Utrecht ducat features a foliate tablet inscribed "MO·ORD·PROVIN·FOEDER·BELG·AD·LEG·IMP" within an ornamented frame. This abbreviates "Moneta Ordinum Provinciarum Foederatorum Belgii Ad Legem Imperii" – "A coin of the provinces of the United Netherlands according to the law of the Empire." All 18th-century provincial ducats share this design (the 2-ducat version has a similar but slightly altered reverse legend). The edge is a raised cable pattern.
These gold ducats were struck as steady bullion-standard trade pieces, reflecting the wealth and unity of the Dutch Republic in the 18th century. Their consistent weight and purity made them particularly valuable for international commerce, and they were widely accepted throughout Europe, the Baltic regions, Russia, and even in trade with Asia.
In particular, NGC defines AU58 as "slight wear on the highest points of the design, full details," whereas the lowest uncirculated grade (MS60) has no trace of wear (though may show contact marks). Thus AU58 is just below Mint State; it exhibits tiny wear on a couple high points but is very close to full mint luster.
Netherlands Gold Ducat, Utrecht
