Amsterdam 1578 40 stuivers

from Stack's Bowers 2017 NYINC sale, lot 3233

CNG Triton XXIX, lot 1076

The first specimen was lot 3233 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2017), where it sold for $1,292.50. The catalog description^[1] noted, "NETHERLANDS. Amsterdam. 40 Stuivers, 1578. NGC EF-45. 36 x 36 mm. Solder Pot assayer mark above circle bearing city arms with imperial crown supported by lions. Reverse: Beaded circle with thick wreath enclosing P(RO)/ AR.(IS) ET/ FO(CIS), "For Home and Hearth". From the year of the Alteratie (Eng: Alteration), which was the name given to the change of power in Amsterdam on May 26, 1578, when the Catholic city government was deposed in favor of a Protestant one. The change resulted in the city's allegiance changing from Philip II (Spain) to William of Orange towards the beginning of the Eighty Years' War. Exceptionally well preserved with moderate reverse doubling, though splendidly struck overall on a hefty planchet with deep toning. A highly desirable example of this siege coinage from a turbulent period in the Netherlands' history." The second specimen was lot 1076 in CNG Triton XXIX (New York, January 2026), where it sold for $2,756.25. The catalog description^[2] noted,

"LOW COUNTRIES, Dutch Revolt. Amsterdam. Besieged by the States-General, December 1577-8 February 1578. AR 40 Stuiver Klippe. Dated 1578. Crowned city coat-of-arms with lion supporters; 1578 · XL below; all within circular pearl border; soldeervaasje (solder pot) stamp above / * P */ AR · ET/ * FO * in three lines; all within wreath. Attractive old cabinet toning, edge split, a few light scratches and marks. EF. Ex Nederlandsche Muntenveiling (11 September 2000), lot 66.
"In the Dutch Revolt, Amsterdam initially refused to join Holland, Zeeland, and the southern provinces, all of whom wanted to push the Spanish from Dutch territory. In late 1577, the rebel Dutch forces blockaded the city. The blockade ended in February of 1578, when Amsterdam grudgingly agreed to join the rebellion against Spain. Soon after, the Catholic town council was replaced by Protestant members loyal to William, Prince of Orange, thus positioning Amsterdam as a participant in the Dutch struggle for independence. During the blockade, the city struck several denominations of silver siege coinage."

We note that forty stuivers = two gulden. Regular issues included the Lion daalder (40 stuivers), the "prince" daalder (50 stuivers), the silver ducat (48 stuivers), the three gulden (57 stuivers) and the ducaton (silver rider or 60 stuivers).

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: silver, the second specimen is 35 x 36 mm, 27.00 g.

Catalog reference: Delm-184; Maill-4.5; VG-109b. the second specimen is Korchnak 19; Mailliet pl. III, 3; P&W Am 01; CNM 2.02.1; Delmonte, Argent 186.

Source:

Delmonte, A., Le Bénélux D'or, Amsterdam: Jacques Schulman N.V., 1964, with supplements to 1977.
Korchnak, Lawrence C., Siege Coins of the World, 1453-1902, Lancaster, PA: Classical Numismatic Group, 2021.
van der Wis, Jan, and Tom Passon, Catalogus van de Nederlandse Munten geslagen sind bet aantreden van Philips II tot aan het einde van de Bataafse Republiek (1555-1806), 2nd ed., Apeldoorn, Netherlands: Omni-Trading b.v., 2009.
^[1]Ponterio, Richard, The January 2017 NYINC Sale: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, featuring the Richard Stuart Collection, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2016.
^[2]Gasvoda, Michael, Victor England, Eric McFadden, Dave Michaels, Bill Dalzell and Lance Hickman, Triton XXIX, Lancaster, PA: Classical Numismatic Group, LLC, 2025.

Link to:

Amsterdam 1578 40 stuivers

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