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1/2 Gold Real - Philip II PHILIPPVS, Countermark A13.2
| Issuer | Holland, County of |
|---|---|
| Year | 1560-1562 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | 24.5 mm |
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| Reverse description | The reverse displays the quartered royal arms of Philip II of Spain, surmounted by an elaborate crown and incorporating the heraldic quarters of Castile, León, Aragon, and Burgundy-Netherlands among others, rendered in the bold relief typical of hammered gold coinage of the period. The shield is set within the field without an inner circle, with the Latin legend disposed around the periphery between the beaded border. The die work reflects the Spanish Netherlands engraving tradition of the mid-16th century, with strong angular lines defining the heraldic charges. The legend attributes the royal and ducal titles of Philip II. |
| Reverse script | Latin |
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| Additional information |
Philip II authorized this fractional gold issue for the County of Holland during a period of mounting fiscal strain in the Low Countries, where the Spanish crown's demands for military subsidy were already generating the resentment that would erupt into open revolt by 1566. The countermark A13.2 — applied by assay authorities to certify fineness after the coin left the mint — reflects persistent anxiety about gold purity in circulating coinage, a concern that became politically charged as trust between Brussels and the provincial estates deteriorated.
The NIJ mint designation in Vanhoudt places production at Nijmegen, one of the smaller authorized striking facilities for this type.