The Siege of Amsterdam

Sale: Triton XI, Lot: 1232. Estimate $2000.  Closing Date: Monday, 7 January 2008.  Sold For $1600. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

LOW COUNTRIES, Amsterdam. AR Veertig stuiver Klippe (27.02 g, 6h). Siege issue. Dated 1578. Crowned city coat-of-arms; PG monogram stamp above; 1578 above XL stamps below / Blank. NPM Am 05; Gelder 129; Delmonte, Argent 204; Mailliet 63. VF, toned, edge filed. According to Maillet, the silver for this issue was provided by the silver candelabra and plate of the city’s Nieuwe Kerk.

Ex J.D. Lasser Collection.

In the Dutch Eighty Years’ War (1568-1648), Amsterdam initially refused to join Holland, Zeeland, and the southern provinces, which wanted to push the Spanish from Dutch territory. In late 1577, the rebel Dutch forces blockaded the city. The blockade ended in February of 1578, when Amsterdam grudgingly agreed to join the rebellion against Spain. Soon after, the Catholic town council was replaced by Protestant members loyal to William, Prince of Orange, thus positioning Amsterdam as a participant in the Dutch struggle for independence. During the blockade, the city struck several denominations of silver siege coinage.