Friesland 1608 daalder Dav-4853

Jean Elsen sale 162, lot 1138

This specimen was lot 1138 in Jean Elsen sale 162 (Brussels, June 2025), where it sold for €220 (about US$305 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"NEDERLAND, FRIESLAND, AR leeuwendaalder, 1608. Op Generaliteitsmuntvoet. Met mmt. leeuw op vz. en kz. Vz/ Ridder rechtsom kijkend met voor zich een wapen met een klimmende leeuw. Kz/ Klimmende leeuw l. Zeer zeldzaam. Oneven patina. (Netherlands, province of Friesland, silver lion dollar of 1608, with lion mintmark on obverse and reverse. Obverse: a knight supports the Holland arms; reverse: lion rampant left. Very rare, unevenly toned, Very Fine.)"

The arms of Holland feature a lion rampant left while the Frisian arms have two lions passant left. We don't know why the Holland arms were used here. This type was struck 1601-63 with none, one or two lion mintmarks. KM 29 has the obverse legend "MO · NO · ARGE · ORDIN · FRIS" while KM 23.1 (shown here) has "MO · ARG · PRO : CONFOE · BEL · FRI".

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 27.68 g, 0.750 fine silver, this specimen 26,85 g.

Catalog reference: KM 23.1, Dav-4853, Verk. 142, 2 var.; Delm. 854 var.; CNM 2.16.45 (ontbreekt, vermeld voor 1611).

Sources:

• Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
• Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1600-1700, Galesburg, IL, 1974.
• 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]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 162: Collection Jacques Druart, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2025.

Link to:

• Gelderland 1607 leeuwendaalder
• Utrecht 1607 leeuwendaalder
• 1608 Nederlandse rijksdaalder
• Coins and currency dated 1608