Golden coin from Friesland sold for record €369,000 on auction

A gold coin originating from the Dutch province of Friesland has sold for 369,000 euros at auction, setting a new record. Auction house Heritage Auctions Europe (HAE) confirmed the sale to Dutch news agency ANP, saying no Frisian coin has ever achieved a higher price.

The previous auction record for a Frisian coin stood at $105,000, equivalent to almost 95,000 euros. The 369,000-euro sale has surpassed that figure by a considerable margin, setting a new record for both Friesland and provincial coins across the Netherlands.

The coin is a half Philip's daalder dating from 1580. It is named after the portrait of Spanish King Philip II on its obverse. Auction house HAE notes that Philip II continued to feature on Dutch currency during the early stages of the Eighty Years' War.

Half Philip's daalders were rarely produced in Friesland, and just two silver examples from the province are known to have survived. The coin last went on public display in Leeuwarden in 1877, when it belonged to the private collection of Baron Rengers, who previously served as the city's mayor.

The coin was produced during a remarkable period in Dutch history. Friesland had joined the Union of Utrecht in 1579, an alliance of provinces opposing Spanish rule. However, the rebellious authorities continued to issue coins bearing Philip II's portrait. This was a practical decision, as merchants were already familiar with the Spanish king's image and were more likely to accept currency bearing his name.