How Far Back Can We Go? Seventh Edition! Ended At 1380 Waiting On 1379

Yes, that is true. They apparently had smaller business needs than the royal subjects!

This 1649 Ducat from the Dutch Republic of Gelderland is a relatively recent pick-up for me. I had been admiring the style of wording on the reverse as it looks a bit like a magic square. According to numista, the translation from the Latin is "Coin of the United Provinces of the Netherlands issued in accordance with the law".

Glad to hear that you are enjoying them @jbuck!

For today, I have a 2 Skilling from Denmark dated 1648 AD:

1648, I do not have a piece with that date.

But perhaps it is relevant to write that this year was really important for the Low Countries. On May 15 1648 the Peace of Münster was signed ; this ended the 80 years of war between Spain and the Netherlands and this finally settled the destiny of the Southern provinces (they remained under Spanish influence, today they approximate the nation of Belgium) and the Northern provinces (the Dutch Republic, today the Netherlands).



treaty of Münster painted in 1648 by Gerard ter Borch, now present in the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam

indeed, history matters a lot

my collection is focused on the 80 yrs war of independence in the Netherlands (south and north provinces) - so the coming 3 months I can contribute to this thread on a more regular basis


1647, the year the peace negociations were preparing the treaty

First Jeton (Dugniolle 4010) is from the North: province of Zeeland Middelburg
'failed negociations in Münster)
OBV coat of arms Zeeland LVCTOR ET EMERGO 1647
REV naval ship 17th century (three master ship of the line) between treacherous rocks at sea TIMIDE AC PRVDENTER

Second Jeton (Dugn.4012) is from the South: Brussels, province of Brabant
'preparations of peace negociations'
OBV: Sun between couds HIS QUOQUE SUBIECTA 16 head 47
REV: Crowned coat of arms Habsburgs, toisson d'or, PHIL IIII DG HISP ET INDIAR REX Zc





Between the lines, one may derive from these two metal pieces of propaganda, that the Northern provinces were at that moment more sceptical about peace than the Southern provinces.

This 4 Grote was minted in the German Free City of Bremen in 1646 AD:

@Tdziemia, your half ducaton from Philip IV (old portrait) is a great piece - in general there are few survivors of half ducatons, some are really rare

@Spence it is nice to revisit this period again, when there is choice, I'll choose pieces that were not shown in previous editions

For 1645, here are three jetons, two from the Southern provinces, one from the Dutch republic:



1645 Dugn.3995
Southern provinces: Brabant, mint Antwerp 'Bureau des Finances'
OBV: Philip IV on a galopping horse, PHIL IIII DG HISP ET INDIAR REX Zc 16 hand 45
REV: Habsburg coat of arms, golden fleece, GECTZ POVR LE BVREAV DES FINA



1645 Dugn.3998 Southern provinces: Brabant mint Brussels 'Confidence in Spain'
OBV: Seated lion with sword and staff INVICTIM ROBVR VIGILANTIA (invincible, strong, vigilant) head
REV: Ermine surrounded by six young FIDES SINE LABE (faith without fault)1645



1645 Dugn.3997 Norhern provinces: Zeeland mint Middelburg
'Justice for Zeeland'
OBV: Desk with open book, ink pot & quill DISCITE IVSTITIAM MONITI
REV: Hand emerges from clouds and keeps justice in balance SVVM CVIQVE TRIBVERE M DC XLV

the legend on the obverse is from VERGiLIUS, Aeneis 6. 620:
Discite justitiam moniti et non temnere divos,
(Learn, I admonish you, to do justice and to honor the gods)

The propaganda of these jetons is clearly present, both the South and North depict themselves as just, strong, pure in faith etc.