Friesland Silver Thaler

The Friesland Silver Thaler often featured a rampant lion on its obverse, a heraldic nod to the province's fierce independence during the Dutch Golden Age.

That lion, surrounded by the Frisian motto, appeared on coins struck in Leeuwarden from 1612 onward, using silver sourced from local mines and imported bullion. Variations in design reflected shifts in governance, from the Estates of Friesland to later stadtholders. Mintage figures remain murky; records from that era were spotty at best.

Dies for these thalers were sometimes reused across years, a practical measure in turbulent times. Not every piece survived intact—wear from circulation tells its own story.

Some experts suspect certain issues incorporated silver from melted-down foreign coins, though proof is scarce. As for the lion, it might have been inspired by earlier seals, but that's just guesswork.

Counterfeits popped up, as they do, but quality control kept most at bay. Pity the forger who tried.