Gold Ducat — 1761
Dutch trade ducat · NGC AU Details (Edge Filing)
The Dutch trade ducat is one of the longest-running coin designs in history: the same standing-knight motif has been struck since the late 16th century and, in modern collector form, is still issued today. This 1761 example was struck at the Utrecht provincial mint during the era of the Dutch Republic (United Provinces).
Obverse
A knight stands facing right in studded armor and plumed helmet, sword resting on his right shoulder and, in his left hand, a bundle of seven arrows representing the seven united provinces. The shield of Utrecht serves as the mintmark. The date is split across the field (17 – 61).
Legend: CONCORDIA · RES · PARVÆ · CRESCUNT
Translation: “Through concord, small things grow.”
Reverse
A square tablet framed by an ornamental mantle carries the legend in five lines.
Legend: MO: ORD: PROVIN: FOEDER: BELG: AD LEG: IMP:
Translation: “Coin of the Federated Provinces of the Netherlands, in accordance with the law of the Empire.”
The gold ducat was the Dutch Republic’s great trade coin: it circulated from the Baltic to the East Indies as a trusted medium of international commerce thanks to its unwavering fineness and weight. Its reputation even reached Australia — under Governor Philip Gidley King’s Proclamation of 1800, the ducat was assigned an official value of 9 shillings 6 pence to keep coinage within the New South Wales colony, making the type an Australian “Proclamation coin” as well.
— Historical context note
About the certification
NGC’s AU Details — Edge Filing designation confirms the coin’s authenticity and About Uncirculated wear, but withholds a numeric grade due to filing on the edge. This kind of damage is extremely common on gold ducats: for centuries, small amounts of gold were shaved from the edges of circulating coins. In a sense it is a historical fingerprint of real-world use, though it limits market value relative to straight-graded examples.
Sources
- Krause–Mishler (KM-7.4) · Friedberg 285
- Numista — N# 323147 (opens in a new tab)
- NGC Cert Lookup — 4685927-012 (opens in a new tab)