The Royal Dutch Mint have launched (20th September) one of the coin collecting world’s favorite coins, that of the traditional Dutch double gold ducat – the single gold one ducat coin is also launched. Dutch Ducat coins have a very long history, which spans more than four centuries with the striking of these silver and gold coins in 1586 during the Dutch Republic. The silver coin became a preferred unit of currency for trade around the world which also inspired similar coins from other Mints and treasuries. The two Ducat gold trade coin was first struck in 1646 and in the usual .983 fineness.
The obverse design for both coins is inspired / reproduced from later strikes which were issued from 1817 and depict a standing knight facing to the right with a sword in right hand and holding a cluster of five arrows in his left hand. The legend in Latin reads “PARVAE CRESCUNT CONCORDIA RES” (In Harmony Small Things Grow). The two ducat strike includes a second circlet of dots towards the center. The year of issue “2012” is portioned in two digits and appears on either side of the knight along with the two current Royal Dutch mintmarks on both one and two ducat coins.
The reverse design for both versions is identical and includes a square shape surrounded with baroque vignettes on all sides along with the text “MO. AUR. REG. BELGII AD IMPERII” (Gold Money of the Kingdom of the Belgae According to Imperial Law). The inscription is a reminder when the Low Countries were once referred to as Belgica Foederata or the “Federated Netherlands” and Belgica Regia, or the “Royal Netherlands”.
Both coins are struck to proof quality, the two Ducat example weighs 6.98 grams with a diameter of 26 mm. The total mintage is limited to 2,500 pieces. The one Ducat coin weighs 3.49 grams with a diameter of 21 mm. and a total mintage limited to 3,500 pieces.
For more information on these and other coins offered by the Royal Dutch Mint, please visit their website at: http://www.knm.nl/Dubbele-Gouden-Dukaat-2012/nl/product/2034/ The information is in Dutch – international orders fulfilled.
What is different between 2000 Double Dutch Ducat and 2012 Double Dutch Ducat, beside the date on coin? So what is the price difference beween 2000 and 2012 Ducats?
The design doesn’t change, that’s true but, in 2000 – the price of Gold never rose above $320 an ounce so, I suspect the price was substantially lower than the price today, and the coin would have been priced in Dutch Guilders..! 🙂
M Alexander
What’s the difference between double ducat and single ducat?