Netherlands, Holland Leeuwendaalder 1576

Leeuwendaalder 1576 – Holland

Uprising Netherlands · Third type · Gerard van Bylaer

A particularly striking Holland lion dalder 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 powerful and sharp strike on both sides, in which the Holland lion in particular appears exceptionally strong. Extra special 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 helmed knight standing to the left, with beard and head turned to the right over his shoulder. A generously draped sash is wrapped around his body; in his right hand he holds the loose end.

In front of him is the shield of Holland within an ornate frame. On either side beneath the split date:

I5 – 76

Around:

MO · NO · ARG · ORDIN · HOL

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

Reverse

centrally the impressive climbing Holland lion to the left, within a pearl circle. The depiction is struck powerfully, with the head, mane, claws and the gracefully curved tail notably clearly forward.

Legend:

CONFIDENS · DNO · NON · MOVETVR · ❀

Confidens Domino non movetur
“Whoso trusts in the Lord shall not be moved.”

The legend ends with the rose ❀, the mint mark of the assayer Rochus Grijp.

Very rare stamp variant

A special 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 issue, according to the available description, has not been observed before and is not known from the cited reference works. As a separate stamp variant, this issue is therefore very rare and provides an interesting starting point for further minting research.

Specifications

Province: Holland
Year: 1576
Nominal value: Lion dalder · 32 stuivers
Type: Third type
Metal: Silver
Mint master: Rochus Grijp
Mint mark: Rose ❀
Mint engraver: Gerard van Bylaer

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

Historical context

The lion dalder 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-royal dalder 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 created the refined third type, recognizable by the knight who turns his head to the right and looks over his shoulder. Both the stylistic interpretation and the execution of the coin striking were clearly improved.

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