Lot 1746
Netherlands. 10 Gulden, 1840 (Utrecht). Fr-327; KM-56. William I. PCGS graded MS-63+. In special PCGS Ship of Gold holder which contains One Pinch of Gold Dust recovered from the S.S. Central America treasure.
Special PCGS number 674280.63+/35474741. Estimated Value $1,000 - UP
The autocratic William I of the Netherlands reached the nadir of his popularity with the Dutch people by 1840. The year before, he had been forced to recognize the independence of Belgium, a former Dutch territory that had separated in revolution in 1831, but was formally supported as a neutral state by the Great Powers of Europe in 1839. Nevertheless, he refused to implement long-demanded reforms even as a new constitution was formulated for the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1840. Adding to his unpopularity in this year was the announcement of his intention to marry Henriëtte d'Oultremont, who was not only Catholic (the royal house of Orange-Nassau was traditionally and strictly Protestant), but also a native of the recently-independent Belgium. Finally concluding that his continued reign over the Netherlands would bring him no joy and could potentially destroy the country and the monarchy, on 7 October 1840, William I abdicated the throne in favor of his son, William II. This gold 10-guilders piece was struck in this last, unhappy year of William I's reign. In 1841, the 71-year-old former monarch married the 47-year-old Henriëtte. He died two years later.
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| Realized $3,120 |
