Overijssel Gold Double Florin

One of the more intriguing aspects of the Overijssel Gold Double Florin is that it was often produced from gold sourced from plundered Spanish ships, a byproduct of the Eighty Years' War's lingering tensions.

This provincial coin, struck between 1650 and 1700 in cities like Deventer or Zwolle, typically featured the Overijssel coat of arms—a rampant lion—on one side, with the opposite showing a knight or similar Dutch motif. Weighing around 6.75 grams and valued at two silver florins, it served as currency for trade in a decentralized republic where provinces minted their own money. Mintage figures are murky; records from that period were spotty, and what's left might have burned in later fires.

Not every piece was flawless—variations in fineness suggest rushed production during economic booms. If you're handling one, note the edge lettering, which could be faint from wear over three centuries. Some numismatists quip it's the coin equivalent of a stubborn canal lock: built to last, but not always easy to navigate.