Netherlands, Gelderland – ½ Duit 1756 – Silver Strike – Harderwijk Obverse: Crowned provincial coat of arms of Gelderland, composed of the two opposing lions. Legend: IN DEO – SP · NOS Expanded: IN DEO SPES NOSTRA – “Our hope is in God.” Reverse: The provincial designation and date arranged in lines: ✿ D ✿ GEL RIÆ 1756 Below the date is the crane mintmaster's mark, placed between rosettes. Specifications: Province / Authority: Gelderland Denomination: ½ Duit Date: 1756 Mint: Harderwijk Mintmaster: Johan Cramer Mintmaster's mark: Crane Metal: Silver Weight: 1.53 g Type: Silver strike References: CNM 2.17.199; HPM Ge 121.1; HNK 1005.1; Verkade 20.6; De Voogt 468 Historical context: This 1756 half duit represents a special silver issue of a denomination otherwise associated with copper coinage. It was struck at the provincial mint of Gelderland in Harderwijk during the tenure of mintmaster Johan Cramer, whose crane mark appears below the date. Contemporary numismatic documentation records silver half duits for 1756 and 1757 among the special issues produced during Cramer's mintmastership.