Rechenpfennig from Dordrecht, Netherlands

 

1580 - Failed talks in Cologne
bronze
31 mm. 5.30 g.

LIBER REVINCIRI LEO PERNEGAT (A lion that has been set free cannot be chained again)
The Pope and Philip II stand next to an enraged lion. The king holds out an olive branch and hides a collar in his other hand.

ROSIS LEONEM LORIS MVS LIBERAT / 1580 (The mouse frees the lion)
A lion chained with a collar with the inscription INQVI (Inquisition), on the left a mouse gnawing on the collar

 

 

 

 

1583 - Duke of Anjou's infidelity
copper
29 mm. 5.60 g.

VBI REX IN POPVLVM TRANNVS 1583 (The king is a tyrant of the people)
The lion prevents the Spanish king Philip II and the Duke of Anjou from enslaving the people, personified by a Dutch girl

POPVLO IVRE D ET H DIVORTIVM (People have the right to divorce)
Woman returns wedding ring to man in military uniform

 

 

 

 

1584 - Assassination of William of Orange
copper
30 mm. 6.45 g.

O DIRVM SCLERVS NON MANEBIT INULTVM / 1584 (O terrible crime, it will not go unavenged)
Balthasar Gerard (centre) shoots William of Orange with a pistol, encouraged on the left by King Philip II, who holds the scepter in his right hand and the hilt of his sable in his left

CONFIDITE / PASTOREM OCCIDIT NE VOS CREDITE LVPO (Do not trust the wolf that kills the shepherd)
A shepherd with a staff and a flock of sheep is attacked by a wolf

 

 

 

 

1594 - Compilation of the Accounts of the United Provinces
copper
29 mm. 6.25 g.

CALCVLVS A RATIONIBVS PROVINCIARVM FOEDER INFER GERM HABITIS CID ID XCIIII
Text in 5 lines, date above line, rosette below

IVSTA RATIO / FIRMVM SERVANDI FOEDERIS VINCVLVM
A hand from the clouds holds scales

 

 

 

 

1597 - Battle of Turnhout
copper
29 mm. 6.70 g.

VICTORIA TVRNOTANA 24 IANVARII 1597
Spanish troops confront the troops of Prince Maurice of Nassau

A DOMINO FACTVM EST ISTVD (The Lord did it)
Coats of arms of England, France and the United Provinces

 

 

 

 

1597 - Victory at Turnhout over the Spanish army by Prince Maurice of Nassau
copper
29 mm. 6.20 g.

SIGNIS AD TVRNHOVT XXXIX POST OPPIDIS TRANS RHENVM III CIS VI HISPANO TRI MESTRI.EREPTIS MD XCVII S C.
Text in 7 lines, date below the line

D.O.M.
The captured cities of Alpen, Berg, Grol, Brevor, Gur, Enschede, Mede, Oldenzell, Ootmarsee and Lingen between the Ems, Rhine and Maas rivers. A soldier with trophies.

 

 

 

 

1600 - The Battle of Nieuwpoort
copper
29 mm. 5.60 g.

DVCE ALB AVST FVGAT EXERC AD NEOPORT CÆSO (It will be fulfilled according to your will 1608)
Burning equipment of the Spanish army, banner with the inscription "ORB AVR P M DVC MD II IV"

TVTEM AVDENDI PRECIVM OELATA LIBERTAS (Freedom is the most valuable thing)
A lion standing on its hind legs protects a column with the inscription FLAND (Flanders), on the right a hand with a hat emerges from the clouds, in the background a fort and ships at sea

 

 

 

 

1604 - Signing of the Treaty of The Hague (a defensive alliance between France and the United Provinces of the Netherlands)
copper
31 mm. 6.30 g.

FIAT VOLVNTAS TVA MD CVIII (It will be fulfilled according to your will 1608)
A man praying, on the left a hand holding an olive branch, on the right a hand with a sword

S. C. / FORTITVDO BELGICA
A bundle of seven arrows

 

 

 

 

1606 - Battle of Cape Vincent
copper
30 mm. 6.13 g.

MODICÆ DIDEI QVID TIMETIS? S. C. (Little gods, what are you afraid of?)
Text in 4 lines, rosette on top

SERVAT VIGILANTIA CONCORS MD DCVI (Concentration helps alertness 1606)
Fighting people in a sailing ship