I'm still doing research on this coin to try and confirm what I think is the reason for it being struck. I am also searching for diagnostic information regarding its attribution. So if anyone knows anything about this coin - please share Meanwhile - I'm enjoying just looking at it The coin is a 1579 Utrecht, Netherlands Rose Noble - Fr.276. It is my belief that this coin was struck marking the Union of Utrecht. The Union of Utrecht (Dutch: Unie van Utrecht) is a treaty signed on January 23, 1579 in Utrecht, the Netherlands, unifying the northern provinces of the Netherlands, until then under control of Spain. The Union of Utrecht is regarded as the foundation of the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands and its independence from Spain.
Just as beautiful here as your other posting Doug. It's the wrong century, and the wrong hemisphere, for me to even try and help you, but I'm waiting with bated breath to hear more about that gem.
It's imitative of the gold Ryal first issued under Edward IV of England in 1464. (Not a very successful nor popular denomination although it was issued on and off through several reigns until at late as possibly the early 17th century). [looks in book] The Ryal was valued at 10/- and issued from 1464-1470 (Edward IV 10/-), 1487-1509 (Henry VII 10/-), 1553-4 (Mary but now as a 15/- coin), 1584-89 (Elizabeth I as 15/-?), 1604-1625 (James I, Two varieties Rose Ryal [30/-] or Spur Ryal values of the latter fluctuated from 15/- to 16/6d).
Well thanks Nd - but there's no great secret. I just buy the coins I like. I only wish I could afford them And satootoko - if you haven't already read it elsewhere - here is some info about this coin. All Utrecht Rose Nobles were struck 1600 to 1602 - except one - the 1579. And most think of the coin as only being struck after formation of the United Netherlands in 1581 - but the province of Utrecht existed before that and they did strike their own coinage. In 1579 a number of the northern Netherlands provinces signed the Union of Utrecht. The Union of Utrecht (Dutch: Unie van Utrecht) is a treaty signed on January 23, 1579 in Utrecht, the Netherlands, unifying the northern provinces of the Netherlands, until then under control of Spain. The Union of Utrecht is regarded as the foundation of the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands, which was not recognized internationally until the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 ended the Thirty Years' War. At this point I can only conclude that the striking of this coin coincided with Utrecht's declaration of independence from Spain in 1579. It makes it a rather important coin - at least in my opinion. Utrecht 1/2 Rose Nobles were also struck in 1579 - but there are only two known according to Freidberg.
The fall of Habsburg dominance and the decline of Spain from being THE major player in Europe... sounds pretty significant to me!
