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The Silver Ducat has been in the Netherlands Mint Law for 350 years, With the 2020 issue, it takes on an appearance unlike any of its predecessors. Although the requisite standing armored knight is on the obverse, as required by the law, on each of the issues in the series, he will be seen standing in front of one of the nation’s historic castles.
The knight is Field Marshall Godard van Reede (1644-1703), who in the United Kingdom is better known as Godert de Ginkell, 1st Earl of Athlone. He served as Governor of Utrecht. In 1688 he accompanied William, Prince of Orange, on his expedition to England where he claimed the throne of England, Scotland and Ireland as William III. After Reede’s return in 1693 he became commander in chief of the Army of Flanders and in 1702 he became first Field Marshal of the Dutch States Army. He will be seen standing in front of each castle with a different provincial shield at his feet.
The second issue shows North Brabant’s Heeswijk Castle, one with a turbulent history going back to 1080. It is in a wooded area near the city of 's-Hertogenbosch. It started out as a wooden stronghold, became an impressive fort and eventually became a dignified country seat. It was regularly besieged, damaged, restored and remodeled. The seventeenth century, the century of the Eighty Years' War in the Netherlands, was one of the most illustrious periods in its history. In the year 1672, in Dutch history known as the Rampjaar (“disaster year”), it was there that the French King Louis XIV and English envoys signed the plan to divide the conquered Netherlands. In the nineteenth century the estate and castle were bought by Baron Van den Bogaerde van Terbrugge. He and his sons transformed it into a luxurious and romantic palace and filled it with an extensive collection of art and antiques. After the death of the last baron, the castle was turned into a museum.
The legend reads MO.NO.ARG.REG.BELGII. TRAJ.. the Latin abbreviation for “Moneta Nova Argenta Regni”: New Silver coin of the Kingdom. “BELGII” is the Latin name for The Netherlands, and therefore does not (only) translate as Belgium. “BRAB.SEP,” stands for the province of North-Brabant
The reverse common to all coins in the series is the national coat of arms of the Netherlands with the royal crown flanked by the date and the inscription CONCORDIA RES PARVAE CRESCUNT, “Unity Makes Strength,” the caduceus mark of the Royal Dutch Mint and the mintmaster’s privy mark.
The 40 millimeter proof coins are made of the traditional .873 fine silver, weigh 25 grams and is limited to 2,000 pieces of each.
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