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1 Gulden 'Karolus gulden' - Charles V
| Issuer | Holland, County of |
|---|---|
| Year | 1521-1556 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | 2.91 g |
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| Obverse description | Three-quarter length armored effigy of Charles V facing right, crowned, holding an upright sword in his right hand and a scepter in his left. The bust is rendered in the late Gothic style characteristic of Netherlandish hammered gold coinage of the period. A beaded inner circle frames the central device, with the surrounding legend separated by rosette stops. The portrait conveys imperial authority through its elaborate armor detail and the dual symbols of military and regal power. |
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| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
The Karolus gulden takes its name directly from Charles V, whose imperial election in 1519 made him the most powerful ruler in Europe — simultaneously Holy Roman Emperor, King of Spain, and lord of the Burgundian Netherlands. Holland's mint at Dordrecht struck this piece under the monetary ordinances Charles imposed to harmonize coinage across his fractious Netherlandish territories, a project that met persistent local resistance from provincial estates jealous of their minting privileges.
The .583 fineness reflects a deliberate debasement from earlier Burgundian gold standards, negotiated rather than dictated — Charles needed provincial cooperation more than he could afford to demand it.