Catalog
20 Stuiver
| Issuer | City of Leiden (Lugdunum Batavorum) |
|---|---|
| Year | |
| Type | Standard circulation banknote |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Printer | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Round coin struck in silver-alloy, bearing at centre a crowned shield charged with two crossed keys — the traditional arms of Leiden (Lugdunum Batavorum) — set within a beaded inner circle and surrounded by a Latin legend running along the outer rim, the whole field showing considerable wear consistent with extended circulation. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Plain, heavily worn reverse with a circular legend running along the rim enclosing a lightly struck central field; a round counterstamp or test hole is visible to the left of centre, with scattered letter remnants of the inscription still legible in parts around the periphery. |
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| Comments |
Leiden's wartime siege coinage and paper issues occupy a peculiar corner of Dutch monetary history, and this 20 Stuiver note is among the more austere examples of municipal emergency finance. Issued by the city itself rather than any banking authority, it reflects the direct civic administration of credit that Dutch cities exercised with considerable autonomy during periods of military or economic disruption.
Leiden's printing and engraving traditions were well-established — the city had active presses from the late sixteenth century onward. Whether that capacity was used here or whether the notes were produced elsewhere remains a point worth verifying against the physical impression.