Friesland Silver Stiver

The Friesland silver stiver was minted from captured Spanish silver, a practical reuse during the Eighty Years' War that kept the Dutch economy afloat.

These coins, struck in Friesland from 1580 to 1795, bore simple designs like the provincial lion or coat of arms, reflecting local autonomy in a federation of provinces. Variations exist, but records are spotty; we know some years saw countermarks for revaluation, yet exact mintages vanished in archival fires long ago. Sizes varied slightly, typically around 20-25 mm in diameter, with silver content eroding over time due to wear and clipping.

As a circulation piece, it handled everything from market stalls to taxes, outlasting many flashier contemporaries. No two are identical, thanks to hand-crafting methods that introduced quirks.

Mint errors pop up occasionally, like off-center strikes—proving even in the 17th century, perfection was overrated.