2 Ducats

Friesland's provincial ducats occupied a peculiar position in Dutch monetary politics: the province insisted on issuing its own gold coinage long after the States-General had pushed toward unified federal issues, a stubbornness rooted in Friesland's historically jealous defense of its ancient autonomy. The 1612 date marks the beginning of this type following the reorganization of Dutch gold coinage standards under the 1601 Edict — itself a response to the proliferation of substandard imitations circulating through the Baltic trade routes that the Dutch Republic depended upon.

The nearly five-decade production window means dies were reused and reworked extensively. Delmonte distinguishes multiple die marriages within this type.