Utrecht (1426-31) 2 groot
This specimen was lot 240 in Schulman auction 385 (Amsterdam, July 2025), where it sold for €1,300 (about US$1,839 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"UTRECHT BISDOM 1010 - 1528. Dubbele Groot of Kromstaart, z.j. (1426-1431), Silver, RUDOLPH van Diepholt postulaat 1423-1431 Klimmende leeuw met wapenschild van Diepholt op de borst. Kz. lang gevoet kruis met R - O - D - F in de hoeken. RRRR. Slechts een handvol exemplaren is ons bekend. Voor het laatst bij ons geveild in 1913. (bishopric of Utrecht, 1010-1581, undated double groat or kromstaart, circa 1426-31, for Rudolf of Diepholt as pretender, 1423-31. Obverse: lion rampant left supporting the Diepholt arms; reverse: long cross cantonned with "R - O - D - F". Extremely rare with only a handful known to us. We last offered one in 1913.)"
Utrecht was an ecclesiastical state until 1528, when Charles V bought out the rights of the last prince-bishop. This territory was divided into the Nedersticht (Lower Sticht, roughly corresponding to the present day province of Utrecht) and Oversticht (Upper Sticht, encompassing the present-day provinces of Overijssel, Drenthe, and part of Groningen). Rudolf van Diepholt (c. 1390-1455) or Rudolf of Diepholz was bishop of Utrecht from 1423 to 1455 and bishop of Osnabrück from 1454 to 1455. His election in 1423 was violently opposed by a local faction and he did not secure papal recognition until 1433.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.65-3.75 g, silver, 31-32 mm diameter, this specimen 3.28 g.
Catalog reference: vdCh. 16.7.
- [1]Absil, Andrew, Olle Cederholm, Erik de Visser and Rik van Noorloos, Schulman sale 385, Amsterdam: Schulman b.v., 2025.
Links to:
- Utrecht (1342-64) groot, Jan van Arkel
- Utrecht (1433-55) goldgulden Fr-188, Rudolf von Diepholz
- Coins and currency dated 1426