Lot 908
Netherlands East Indies. 8 Reales, 1601. Struck at Dordrecht for the United Amsterdam Co. Scholten-1; Dav-413; Delm-1206; Salvesen-11. Crowned arms flanked by rampant lions. Reverse: Crowned shield, rampant lion within. Superb natural and beautifully toned surfaces without any handling flaws. NGC graded MS-63.
As the European powers competed to gain economic advantage through the exploitation of overseas colonies, it became apparent that use of specific trade coinage would serve a second purpose by advertising the existence of the home nation (much as a newspaper would do in the next era). With Spain the world's leading naval power prior to 1588, the other nations were forced to act much like pirates as they tried to garner influence and wealth. After the defeat of the Spanish Armada, Great Britain produced its Portcullis coinage in December of 1600. A very few months later, the Compagnie Van Verre in Amsterdam struck a similar series of silver coins at the Dordrecht mint which were intended to emulate the Spanish real series. Those issues by mintmaster Jacol Jansz de Jonge were distributed by the famed Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC) which became powerful shortly after being formed in 1602. Of the eleven examples of this type believed to be in private hands, no others are known in a finer state of preservation. Although not struck in a collar, this piece appears to be fully round and with minimal stress evident. The pedigree includes years in the holdings of Randolph Zander as well as the Johnson and Craig family collections.
Estimated Value $12,000 - 14,000.
Ex Irving Goodman Collection.
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| Realized $31,200 |
