The Lion Daler - Silver Dutch Ducatoon for trade
One of the most popular silver "thalers" in the XVII century was the DUTCH Lion Daler (leeuwendaaler), first minted in 1575.
Thousands of these coins were issued for trade, using a 750 Silver metal, and many different types were struck in diferent Dutch cities.
The lion dollar was authorized to contain 427.16 grains of .750 fine silver and passed locally for between 36 to 42 stuivers. It was lighter than the large denomination coins then in circulation, namely the ducatoon (491 grains of .920 fine silver and passing at 3 guilders or 60 stuivers) and the rijksdaalder (448 grains of .885 fine silver passing at 2 1/2 guilders or 50 stuivers). Clearly it was more advantageous for a Dutch merchant to pay a foreign debt in lion dalers rather than in more costly rijksdaalders. Thus, the lion dollar became the coin of choice for foreign trade.
As they were stuck over very fine planchets, they are ususaly very weekly struck.
Lion Daler (Netherlands - 1601 - 750 Silver - 40mm - about 27g)
