The Netherlands, Deventer. Matthias I. Goudgulden 1617-1618 / Zeldzaam (R) / Scherpe slag met zeer veel reliëf

Rare gold gulden from Deventer without a year (1617-1618)

Quality: higher quality with fantastic relief on the coin

No mint mark
Weight: 3.16 grams
Material: Gold
Edge: Plain
Catalogue: Delmonte 1083 (R), CNM 2.12.2

Mathias I (better known as Emperor Matthias of Austria) was emperor of the Holy Roman Empire from 1612 to 1619. His relation to Deventer is directly traceable to the city’s minting rights: as emperor he formally stood above the free Hanseatic city of Deventer, which in this period struck silver and gold coins bearing his name and portrait to guarantee validity and royal backing.

Deventer had officially had royal minting rights since 1046. Although Deventer in the 17th century was effectively part of the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands, the city continued to coin on the coinage standard of the Holy Roman Empire. Deventer did this to protect the international trading status of its coins.