Zeeland 1595 1/2 rijksdaalder
This specimen was lot 67 in Schulman auction 388 (Amsterdam, December 2025), where it sold for €2,100 (about US$2,959 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"1/2 Leicesterrijksdaalder, ZEELAND Provincie 1580 - 1795, 1595, Silver Type II. Gelauwerd borstbeeld met zwaard en pijlenbundel naar rechts CONCORDIA. RES. PARVAE. CRESCV9. Kz. schild met de wapens van de zeven provincien, daar boven jaartal tussen punten. Uit de Zeeuwse Leeuw collectie. RRR. Uiterst zeldzaam. Zeer fraai +. (half Leicester dollar of 1595, province of Zeeland, silver type II. Obverse: laureate bust with sword and bundle of arrows to right; reverse: the seven arms of the United Provinces in one shield, the date above between two dots. From the Zeeland Lion collection, extremely rare, very fine or better.)"
Robert Dudley (1532-88) was earl of Leicester and a favorite of queen Elizabeth. Wikipedia comments, "A champion also of the international Protestant cause, he led the English campaign in support of the Dutch Revolt (1585–1587). His acceptance of the post of governor-general of the United Provinces infuriated Queen Elizabeth. The expedition was a military and political failure, and it ruined Leicester financially." This type was struck 1595-96, by which time the earl was long dead.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 14.62 g, 0.888 fine silver, this specimen 14.18 g.
Catalog reference: Delm. 914; V. 84.4.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1600-1700, Galesburg, IL, 1974.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- 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]Absil, Andrew, Olle Cederholm, Erik de Visser and Rik van Noorloos, Schulman sale 388: 145 Year Jubilee Sale, Amsterdam: Schulman b.v., 2025.
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