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Double Gold Ducat 2020
First struck in 1612.
Wood case with a numbered certificate
2019 Final Mintage: 634
Metal: Gold 983/1000 fine
Diameter: 26 mm
Weight: 6.988 grams
Quality: Proof
In addition to the traditional design of an anonymous knight holding a sword and a sheath of arrows, with an inscribed tablet on the reverse, the 2020 Gold Ducat is decorated with acanthus leaves, shells and a gold bar.
The Dutch Gold Ducat and Double Gold Ducat are appearing in another variation of their traditional, classic design for their 2020 issue. The first Gold Ducat with the legendary standing knight was struck in Holland under the United Provinces in 1586. The first Double Ducat came from the province of Friesland in 1612. The Dutch Kingdom continued the practice. The coin has always had the same basic obverse of a standing knight accompanied by an ornate inscribed tablet on the reverse. The only variations reflect artistic liberties taken by mint engravers. The coins are based on the design of the engraver Johan Willem Marmé, the die cutter at the Utrecht Mint from 1763 to 1795. Marmé's present-day successors in Utrecht have taken his original design, characterized by a distinct helmet and accurate, detailed buttons on the knight's outfit, and adapted it to the requirements of 21st century minting.
The 2020 issues are the third in a four year series that focuses on the international use of the ducats over four centuries. They use the points of the compass as a guide to explore the trade routes in which the Gold Ducats played an important role. The 2018 coin pointed north to the Baltics, where the grain trade in particular led to enormous profits for Dutch traders. The journey in 2019 was east to Asia, where in addition to the Dutch trading outpost of Batavia (Indonesia), the Dutch East India Company (VOC) founded many different trading posts in several countries. To make trade easier, the company minted its own coins, including the Gold Ducats.
In 2020 the journey continues South, towards Africa, where many gold sources were discovered. Unfortunately, it was never certain that the treasure chests filled with the Gold Ducats, that were often carried on East India Trading Company ships to finance trade in Asia, reached their final destination. Privateers and pirates were lurking everywhere. Although the words ‘privateer’ and ‘pirate’ may seem the same today, in the Golden Age these were very different professions. Other than piracy, privateering was legal. A sovereign or delegated authority issued commissions (a permission slip) to the privateers, who in return shared part of their profit. Pirates lacked permission and therefore, would even attack ships from their own country. This year's coins are adorned with acanthus leaves, shells and a symbolic gold bar.
The Double Gold Ducat is minted only in proof quality and was offered on a reservation only basis until May 31. Sales are now closed, and the mintage was restricted by the Mint to the number of orders received. In 2020 the issued amounts were only 798 Double Ducats.
Orders for these after-market coins are being accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. |
