Netherlands, Holland Leeuwendaalder 1576

Leeuwendaalder 1576 – Holland

Opposing Netherlands · Third type · Gerard van Bylaer

A particularly striking Holland lion thaler from 1576, belonging to the third type with the armored knight who looks to the right over his shoulder. This specimen stands out for a strong and sharp strike on both sides, in which especially the Holland lion appears exceptionally prominent. Especially notable is the very rare stamp variant in which the letters I and N in ORDIN are connected to each other in a remarkable way.

Obverse

A armored and helmeted knight standing to the left, with a beard and the head turned to the right over his shoulder. A richly draped sash is wrapped around his body; in the right hand he holds the finished end.

In front of him is the shield of Holland within an ornate surround. On both sides beneath the split year:

I5 – 76

Around:

MO · NO · ARG · ORDIN · HOL

Moneta Nova Argentea Ordinum Hollandiae
“New silver coin of the States of Holland.”

Reverse

Center the imposing climbing Holland lion to the left, within a pearl circle. The depiction is struck with force, with the head, mane, claws and the gracefully curved tail clearly standing out.

Inscription:

CONFIDENS · DNO · NON · MOVETVR · ❀

Confidens Domino non movetur
“Who trusts in the Lord will not be moved.”

The inscription ends with the rose ❀, the mint mark of the moneyer Rochus Grijp.

Very rare stamp variant

A notable feature of this specimen lies in the word ORDIN on the obverse. The letters I and N are connected to each other in a remarkable way.

This rendition is, according to the available description, not previously recorded and also not known from the cited reference works. As a separate stamp variant, this rendition is therefore very rare and constitutes an interesting point of reference for further numismatic research.

Specifications

Province: Holland
Year: 1576
Nominal value: Lion thaler · 32 stuivers
Type: Third type
Metal: Silver
Coin maker: Rochus Grijp
Mint mark: Rose ❀
Engraver: Gerard van Bylaer

References: Delmonte 831 · Verkade 48.3 · HNPM 22 · CNM 2.28.66 · Davenport 8838

Historical context

The lion thaler was introduced in 1575 as the first large silver piece of the rebellious Netherlands. The coin was valued at 32 stuivers, but contained less silver than the Burgundian cross-reich thaler with the same rate. The difference yielded extra revenue in a period in which large financial resources were needed for the fight against Spain.

After the initial issues, new dies were produced in 1576 by the skilled Gerard van Bylaer. This gave rise to the refined third type, recognizable by the knight who turns his head to the right and looks over his shoulder. Both the stylistic realization and the execution of the striking were clearly improved.

This specimen convincingly shows that refinement. The powerful knight side and the particularly sharply executed Holland lion form together a strong coin image, while the very rare ORDIN-mint variant gives the piece an extra numismatic dimension. A striking lion thaler from the early years of the Dutch Revolt.