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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;goldducat, post: 2320721, member: 37873&quot;]I&#039;d like to append a story of two other coins from the set - so-called siege ducats klippes, minted by the Middelburg mint. In fact these coins are not ducats, but crowns. They were minted with a single, double, quadruple and probably also a triple weight of a ducat, means about 3.5, 7.0, 14 and probably also 10.5 gm. Coins sold in the recent CNG auction are single klippe &quot;ducats&quot;, but they differ significantly. The first one (with the date of 1573) is minted on January 20, 1574/3, with most intended to be offered as commemorative medals. The second coin was minted in March 1574/3, after the surrender, probably to meet payments to the victors. They are usually smaller and thinner than those minted in January.</p><p><br /></p><p>The history background of minting both Middelburg klippe &quot;ducats&quot; is not less important than of two other coins from this set. I&#039;d say it&#039;s even more significant. And this is why:</p><p><br /></p><p>Middelburg klippes are siege coins, but in fact Middelburg was not exposed to ordinary attack, nor was it truly under siege. The whole island where the city was located was blockaded during the years 1572 and 1573, by the Geuzen (privateers) vessels. It&#039;s worth mentioning that these privateers, so-called Geuzen, were known for their courage and fighting against much a bigger fleet. Thus Geuzen easily blocked the Spanish army in the city. What&#039;s more, all the sea deliveries of supplies - as well food as a weaponry - were destroyed or forced to retreat.</p><p><br /></p><p>It&#039;s not surprising that in this situation food supplies in the city shrinked quickly. Already in late 1572 situation of defenders in Middelburg was critical. Due to a very cold winter of 1572/73 a number of people died. In February 1573 the last attempt of the Spanish fleet to provide food supplies for the army staying in the city failed: a huge Spanish fleet of 83 ships (!) was defeated by Geuzen. Soon afterwards the Spanish garrison of the commander Mondragon surrendered.</p><p><br /></p><p>The situation in the city was reflected on the Middelburg gold siege coins. Middelburg suffered because of hunger. It is mentioned in the city chronicles as well as in the inscriptions on the reverse sides of several siege coins (quadruple and double pieces). One of such Dutch inscriptions says: &quot;Toen ik werd geslagen, Middelburg werd belegerd. Zo van dat het volk aten van de honger paarden, honden, huinen door de noodzaak, katten, ratten, en de lijnzaad wafels in plaats van brood&quot; (&quot;When I was striking this coin, Middelburg was besieged. The people, pressed by hunger, ate horses, dogs, leather in need, cats, rats and linseed waffles instead of bread.”).</p><p><br /></p><p>Now you know a tragic story staying behind these coins.</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://www.cngcoins.com/photos/big/10102553.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p> <p style="text-align: center"><br /></p> <p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://www.cngcoins.com/photos/big/10102554.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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