Netherlands, Utrecht Daalder 1689

30 Stuiver | Daalder 1689 – Utrecht

Republiek der Verenigde Nederlanden | Utrecht

Silver 30 stuiver or daalder, struck in Utrecht in 1689, with the characteristic stamp variant featuring the Roman I, CRESCVNT and a smooth fas.

A particularly richly designed provincial issue from the Republic of the United Netherlands. The obverse is dominated by the crowned provincial arms of Utrecht, while the reverse shows an remarkable composition of seven crowned coats of arms.

Struck during the minting reign of Johan van Romondt, without coin or master’s mark.

What is special about this specimen is the execution of the Wijk bij Duurstede coat of arms with a smooth fas, combined with a visible doubling of a part of the arms and the inscription on the right upper side of the reverse.

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Obverse

Centrepiece is the crowned shield of the province of Utrecht, held by two lions.

Above the shield two crossed orange branches.

Below the representation the Latin motto:

CONCORDIA RES PARVAE CRESCVNT

Translation:
By concord small things grow.

A motto that aptly expresses the idea of unity and collective strength within the Republic.

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Reverse

An extensive heraldic composition of seven crowned coats of arms.

In the center are the arms of the Diocese of Utrecht, the Province of Utrecht and the city of Utrecht.

To the left the arms of Amersfoort and Wijk bij Duurstede; to the right those of Rhenen and Montfoort.

Above the arms the inscription:

MO · NO · ORD · TRAIECT

Below the depiction the year:

I689

Noteworthy is the way the year is written, with the first digit 1 rendered as the Roman I.

On the upper right side, in a portion of the arms and the adjoining inscription, there is a clear doubling of the strike. This causes parts of the depiction to be printed twice relative to each other.

This minting phenomenon gives the piece an individual character and a tangible trace of the historical striking process.

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Stamp characteristics

This specimen belongs to the variant with:

Roman I in the year I689
CRESCVNT in the motto
Smooth fas in the Wijk bij Duurstede coat of arms

For the Wijk bij Duurstede coat of arms, several stamp variants are known.

In the heraldically correct depiction there are three columns on the horizontal beam, the so-called laden fas.

In this variant, however, the horizontal beam is smooth and the three columns are absent. This so-called smooth fas thus deviates from the actual Wijk bij Duurstede arms and can be traced back to the production of the used coin die.

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Specifications
Area: Northern Netherlands
Period: Republic of the United Netherlands, 1581–1795
Province: Utrecht
Mint location: Utrecht
Year: 1689
Nominal value: 30 stuivers | Daalder
Metal: Silver
Weight: 15.66 grams
Diameter: 36 mm
Mintmaster: Johan van Romondt
Mint mark: None
Master’s mark: None

Stamp variant: Roman I · CRESCVNT · smooth fas
Strike feature: Partial doubling of arms and inscription on the right upper side of the reverse

References: Delmonte 1086 · Verkade 109.4 · Van der Wiel 5b (JMP 1968) · HNPM 67 · CNM 2.43.109

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Historical context

The Utrecht daalder of 1689 stands out for its rich heraldic composition. Seven coats of arms bring together different administrative and urban elements of Utrecht on a single coin.

For the specialized collector, it is the smaller details that matter. In this specimen the Roman I in I689, the spelling CRESCVNT and the Wijk bij Duurstede coat of arms with smooth fas come together.

What follows is a visible trace of the historical minting process: the partial double strike on the right upper side of the reverse, where parts of the arms and the motto are printed twice.

An intriguing seventeenth-century Utrecht daalder in which heraldry, stamp variation and the original minting process come together in a remarkable way.