Gold ducat, recovered from the VOC shipwreck 'Akerendam', also referred to as 'the Runde Treasure'. CNM 2.23.45. The Akerendam was a ship of the Dutch East-India Company (VOC), built in 1724. Akerendam is a "House" near Beverwijk in Holland. On 19 January 1725, the Akerendam left for Batavia with a crew of 200 people and 19 chests of gold and silver. On 8 March 1725 the Akerendam drifted in a snow storm and sank near the cliffs of Runde island (Norway). Despite the fact that the ship was wrecked close to the shore there were no survivors. During the next months, only 5 chests of coins were recovered. The site was forgotten until divers rediscovered the wreck site in 1972. Although little remained of the ship, about 57.000 gold and silver coins were recovered. The 6.600 gold coins were mostly the rare Dutch gold ducats, minted in Utrecht in 1724. Prior to this find only a handful of these ducats were known. Obverse: Standing knight with Spanish helmet, holding sword and seven arrows. His legs divide the date 17-24, rose between legs. Reverse: Legend within ornamented square. Diameter: 22,4 mm Weight: 3,48 g