Zeeland Gold Carolus
Netherlands
1550–1580
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Estimated Melt Value
$491.22
Based on Gold spot price ($4,864.305/oz) · 90.0% purity · 3.49g
Updated 1:50 PM
Collector premium not included
Specifications
| Country | Netherlands |
| Years Minted | 1550–1580 |
| Composition | Gold |
| Weight | 3.49 g |
| Diameter | 21 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Plain |
Design
Obverse
Features the portrait of Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor.
Reverse
Depicts the coat of arms of the Habsburg Netherlands.
History & Notable Facts
The Zeeland Gold Carolus often bore the bust of Charles V, whose vast empire made it a de facto international currency long before passports existed.
This coin, minted in Zeeland between 1550 and 1580, was typically produced from gold refined in Antwerp, a hub for European bullion flows. Records suggest it weighed around 3.5 grams, though exact specifications varied by year. Designs included the imperial eagle on the reverse, symbolizing Charles's Holy Roman Empire ties, even as Dutch provinces chafed under his rule.
We don't know the precise mintage figures; most ledgers from that era vanished in later conflicts. What survives are a handful of specimens, prized for their crisp edges and the faint traces of original gilding.
Historians quibble over whether these coins funded the early Dutch Revolt. It's possible.
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