Dutch States: Friesland 2 duit 1620-1649 (KM 41)

[FosseWay]

The arms remind me of some of the Dutch states (specifically Frisia). The style of the portrait reminds me of some provincial Spanish and French coins of the late 16th century. That's about as far as I've got with this!

Copper, 22,8 mm, 2,34 g

[andyg]

try Friesland 2 Duit (Oord) KM#26 - 1607-1610

[FosseWay]

Thank you. With that as a pointer, I think it's actually KM 41. The word beneath the shield on mine is fairly clearly ARG, whereas for KM 26 it should be the start of ORDINVM. The full legend on KM 41 reads MO NOVA ARG ORDIN FRI, though why it should claim it's silver (argentum) when it's clearly copper is beyond me.

Unfortunately the date is completely off the flan - but you can't have everything!

[Figleaf]

In fact, thanks to the word .ARG. the coin can be identified as an oord 1644-49 (PW 6017.) Earlier issues (PW 6015) have a differently shaped shield. This type also occurs dateless, but since the date is in the crown, the information is off-flan.

obv: Frisian nobleman, sword on shoulder, dividing F   O (Frisiae ordines) in circle - NISI DOMINVS NOBISCVM or variant - unless the lord is with us
rev: Frisian crowned arms, crown breaking through circle - MOneta.NOVA.ARGentevm.ORDINvm.FRisiae or variant - new silver coin of the estates of Friesland.

It is not known why this coin has ARG in its legend. I like the theory that the engraver mixed up the die with that of the quarter florijn struck since 1601. The most striking difference with this coin is that instead of F   O, there is 7   S (denomination, 7 stuivers) on both sides of the bust. Nobody seems to have cared much, as the error wasn't corrected.

Peter