$3,600.00 USD
The Netherlands Gold Ducat was a widely recognized trade coin across Europe and the world in the 18th century. The Netherlands, with its powerful maritime trade and the Dutch East India Company (VOC), issued these gold ducats to facilitate international commerce, spreading Dutch influence in global markets.
The 1780 Holland Gold Ducat comes from the province of Holland in the United Provinces (Dutch Republic), embodying the economic strength and stability of that era. Dutch gold ducats of this period often traveled far – for example, many dated in the 1750s–1780s have been found in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and other trade outposts, underscoring their role as a trusted trade currency in Europe and Asia.
Physical characteristics include:
· Size: Approximately 21-22mm diameter
· Weight: Approximately 3.49 grams
· Fineness: .986 fine gold (98.6% pure)
· Actual Gold Weight: 0.1106 troy oz
The obverse depicts an armored knight standing to the right, holding a sword in one hand and a bundle of arrows in the other. The bundle of arrows symbolizes the unity and strength of the Dutch provinces. The date is split around the knight's figure, with "17" on the left and "80" on the right. Surrounding this design is the Latin motto abbreviated as "CONCORDIA RES PAR CRES HOL" (Concordia Res Parvae Crescunt, Hollandiae), meaning "Through unity, small things grow – Holland" - essentially "Unity Makes Strength."
The reverse features a decorative ornamented square cartouche enclosing several lines of Latin text: "MO: ORD: PROVIN: FOEDER: BELG: AD LEG: IMP." This expands to "Moneta Ordinum Provinciarum Foederatarum Belgicarum ad Legem Imperii," which translates to "Coin of the Order of the Federated Provinces of the Netherlands, according to the law of the Empire."
The Netherlands Gold Ducat was a stable and trusted currency, with its weight and purity tightly controlled. This consistency made it a reliable international trade coin and a symbol of Dutch commercial power during the 18th century.
This population data indicates that while the coin is scarce, it is not exceptionally rare for its type and date. There are approximately 22 Mint State examples certified by NGC, with an MS61 being in the lower-to-middle range of that population. The 1780 Holland ducat appears to have had slightly better survival rates than some adjacent years, possibly due to a larger original mintage or a small hoard discovery.
Netherlands Gold Ducat, Holland
