Netherlands - Overijssel. Silver Duit 1770 - 'New Year’s Type' - CNM 2.38.118 - Very Rare

Overijssel – silver duit type 1770, crowned provincial arms / allegory with anchor – CNM 2.38.118, HPM OV75, PW 7012.1 – Very Rare

Description

Silver off-metal strike of the 1770 duit of the province of Overijssel, struck with a reeded edge. In the standard literature this piece is classified as a silver presentation striking or New Year’s token. The regular issues of this type were struck in copper; the silver pieces form a separate, very rare group and are consistently treated as such in auction catalogues.

Obverse
Crowned coat of arms of the province of Overijssel (lion within shield), legend “VIGILATE ET ORATE”. This Latin motto means “Watch and pray”, referring to the biblical verse Vigilate et orate, ut non intretis in tentationem (Matthew 26:41).

Reverse
Standing female allegorical figure in draped clothing, holding an anchor; the date 1770 in the exergue. Legend “IN DEO – SPES MEA”, meaning “My hope is in God”. In auction literature the figure is described as an allegory of joy or confidence, fitting the hopeful character of the motto.

Historical context

During the 18th century, each province of the Dutch Republic minted its own small coinage. Overijssel issued large quantities of duiten (copper pieces) for daily use. In 1770 and 1771, the provincial authorities released ordinances to withdraw older duiten from circulation because the sheer volume of small change caused monetary problems. Against this background, a very small number of silver off-metal strikes were produced as presentation pieces, commonly interpreted as New Year’s tokens. The combination of the provincial arms with the moral-religious inscriptions “VIGILATE ET ORATE” and “IN DEO SPES MEA” is typical for contemporary patriotic and devotional medallic issues of the Dutch Republic.

Silver examples of this 1770 type are rated as very rare.

Specifications of the offered piece:

Issuing authority: Province of Overijssel, Dutch Republic

Year: 1770

Type: Silver off-metal strike / New Year’s token based on the duit design

Metal: Silver

Weight: 3.28 g

Edge: Reeded

References: CNM 2.38.118 – HPM OV75 – PW 7012.1

Please note: modern coins are more than simple pieces of metal – each carries its own history, design, and individuality. While they are struck with greater uniformity than ancient coins, differences in minting, handling, and preservation over the years give every coin a unique character. Professional photographs can never fully capture the brilliance of the surfaces, the luster, and the subtle play of light that appear when viewed in hand. That’s why I strongly recommend looking carefully at all the photos, from different angles and under varying light. This will give you the best possible impression of the quality, charm, and craftsmanship of the coin.

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