Netherlands, Kampen Leeuwendaalder 1649

Northern Netherlands – Republic of the United Netherlands (1581–1795)
Overijssel – City of Kampen
Lion Dollar, 1648

Lion dollar struck in 1648 at Kampen, under mintmaster Jan Jellen, recognizable by the mintmark: lily. A characteristic provincial silver trade coin from the late 17th century.

Specifications
• Material: silver
• Weight: 26.68 grams
• Diameter: 42 mm

Historical significance

The Lion Dollar was one of the most influential silver trade coins in the world. The coin circulated not only in Europe, but also widely in the Middle East, the Dutch East Indies, and in the Dutch colony of New Netherland (the later New York). In addition, the Lion Dollar was widely used in the English colonies in North America during the 17th and early 18th centuries.

Due to intensive use, many specimens in circulation were heavily worn, making the design sometimes barely recognizable. For that reason they were also referred to in the English colonies as “dog dollars.” The lion dollar enjoyed a much wider and longer distribution than other Dutch silver coins such as the ducaton or the rijksdaalder.

Documents from Maryland (1701 and 1708) mention the lion dollar as the main circulating coin. The coin was also widely accepted in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Virginia. In well-known finds, including the wreck of H.M.S. Feversham (1711) and the Castine, Maine treasure trove (1704), several lion dollars have been recovered.

After 1713, production was terminated; in the 18th century, the lion dollar in the Middle East was largely displaced by the Austrian thaler, while in North America the Spanish silver dollar became the dominant trading currency.

References

Delmonte 862 | Verkade 163.3 | HNPM 29 | CNM 2.30.37 | Davenport 4879

Condition

A very attractive specimen, with the main characteristics clearly preserved.