Beautiful sixteenth century Dutch Leeuwendaalder recreated for limited silver bullion coin run

A couple of months ago the Royal Dutch Mint released a restruck, modern version of one of the most important coins in history, the Lion Dollar. Available in two sizes of proof silver and two of proof gold, the coin was a quite beautiful and very popular. Now the mint has decided to go a step further and release a one-ounce silver bullion version.

Almost identical to the proof version in design, the main difference seems to be the loss of the old-style uneven edges – what the Monnaie de Paris uses on its Women of France and Clovis coins and calls their ‘Historical Strike‘. Having a rim does take away a little of the faux authenticity of the proof, but really, we’re nitpicking here. This is a beautiful coin and one that deserves to do well on looks alone.

Just 25,000 of these will be produced and we think it will prove a popular choice with collectors. Struck in an ounce of fine (0.999) silver, the sales price at LPM HK puts it in the mid-range overall, but very well priced for something with a mintage this limited. Issued by a European state, it will also be seen as a bit more important than one of the countless limited run bullion coins issued for African or Oceanic states that add their name to the coin without having much to do with the production of them.

The real beauty of this one is that it’s different to just about everything else out there. We like our nature-themed bullion coins as much as anyone else, but you do occasionally feel like every animal on the planet features on one. A surprising release and a very pleasant one. Possibly our favourite bullion coin of the year so far.

2017 LEEUWENDAALER ‘LION DOLLAR’ SILVER BULLION COIN

MINTS DESCRIPTION

A powerhouse currency in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the leeuwendaalder (lion dollar) was widely used as Dutch influence spread around the globe through its burgeoning trading empire. Minted until 1713, it lost influence, as the power of the Dutch traders did, to the increasing power of the British Empire and others. First struck in the province of Holland in 1575, it was made of 427.16 grains of 0.750 silver. Its composition made it more attractive to pay a foreign debt than the Riijsdaalder which was both heavier and struck in 0.885 fineness silver, for insufficient extra value.

The obverse face of the Lion Dollar depicted a standing knight with a shield bearing an image of a lion rampant. Two beaded circles surrounded the design which held the inscription MO. ARG. PRO. CONFOE. BELG. which was a shortened version of the latin MONETA ARGENTEA PROVINCIARUM CONFOEDERATUM BELGICARUM, meaning Silver money of the Province of the Netherlands Confederation. A province name was appended to the end to denote which region had issued the coin. The same circular beads were present on the reverse only this time displaying the inscription CONFIDENS. DNO. NON. MOVETVR, which translates into English as ‘Who trusts in the Lord is not moved’. The lion rampant that was depicted on the shield on the obverse face takes pride of place on the reverse and is depicted full size.

With a weak strike in thin metal, the coin did not wear well, but there are some fine original examples out there regardless, no doubt a side effect of the sheer numbers of these produced. An important coin from a historical perspective and a beautiful one for the collector.

SPECIFICATION

NAME 2017 LION DOLLAR
DENOMINATION n/a
COMPOSITION 0.999 silver
WEIGHT 31.1 grams
DIAMETER 38.7 mm
FINISH Brilliant uncirculated
MODIFICATIONS None
MINTAGE 25,000
BOX / COA No / No