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The Silver Ducat has been in the Netherlands Mint Law for 350 years, With the 2020 issue, it takes on an appearance unlike any of its predecessors. Although the requisite standing armored knight is on the obverse, as required by the law, on each of the issues in the series, he will be seen standing in front of one of the nation’s historic castles.
The knight is Field Marshall Godard van Reede (1644-1703), who in the United Kingdom is better known as Godert de Ginkell, 1st Earl of Athlone. He served as Governor of Utrecht. In 1688 he accompanied William, Prince of Orange, on his expedition to England where he claimed the throne of England, Scotland and Ireland as William III. After Reede’s return in 1693 he became commander in chief of the Army of Flanders and in 1702 he became first Field Marshal of the Dutch States Army. He will be seen standing in front of each castle with a different provincial shield at his feet.
The first coin in the new series features De Haar Castle in the province of Utrecht. It is the largest and one of the most opulent castles in the Netherlands, once the private residence of the Van Zuylen family, whose descendants still stay there yearly. It has also hosted the likes of Coco Chanel and Roger Moore. The legend reads MO.NO.ARG.REG.BELGII. TRAJ.. the Latin abbreviation for “Moneta Nova Argenta Regni”: New Silver coin of the Kingdom. “BELGII” is the Latin name for The Netherlands, and therefore does not (only) translate as Belgium. “TRAJ” is short for Traiectum, Latin for the province of Utrecht.
The reverse common to all coins in the series is the national coat of arms of the Netherlands with the royal crown flanked by the date and the inscription CONCORDIA RES PARVAE CRESCUNT, “Unity Makes Strength,” the caduceus mark of the Royal Dutch Mint and the mintmaster’s privy mark.
The 40 millimeter proof coins are made of the traditional .873 fine silver, weigh 25 grams and is limited to 2,000 pieces of each.
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