Sale: Triton XI, Lot: 1234. Estimate $1500.  Closing Date: Monday, 7 January 2008.  Sold For $1700. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

LOW COUNTRIES, Amsterdam. AR Veertig stuiver Klippe (26.56 g, 6h). Siege issue. Emission of 5 January 1578. Crowned city coat-of-arms supported by lions rampant; X L• flanking crown, 1578 below; all within pearl border; PG monogram stamp above / R PR/AR ET/RFOR (Pro aris et focis; in three lines across field within laurel wreath framed by pearl borders. NPM Am 01.1; Gelder 117b; Delmonte, Argent 193; Mailliet 23. VF, toned. According to Maillet, the silver for this issue was provided by the city’s statue of Sint-Nicolaas.

Ex J.D. Lasser Collection; Heritage (27 February 1987), lot 2976.

In the Tachtigjarige Oorlog (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.