By 1786, the VOC was financially terminal — carrying debts that would eventually force its dissolution in 1799. These Utrecht-struck gulden pieces were issued partly to pay Company employees and soldiers in Asia, where chronic coin shortages made any silver acceptable currency regardless of origin. The Utrecht mint's output was never large, and much of what reached the East was melted or countermarked by local authorities upon arrival.
KM#117 is specifically attributed to the Utrecht chamber, one of six semi-autonomous VOC chambers that maintained separate minting arrangements.
By 1786, the VOC was financially terminal — carrying debts that would eventually force its dissolution in 1799. These Utrecht-struck gulden pieces were issued partly to pay Company employees and soldiers in Asia, where chronic coin shortages made any silver acceptable currency regardless of origin. The Utrecht mint's output was never large, and much of what reached the East was melted or countermarked by local authorities upon arrival.
KM#117 is specifically attributed to the Utrecht chamber, one of six semi-autonomous VOC chambers that maintained separate minting arrangements.