6 Stivers `Scheepjesschelling` trial strike obverse

In 1670, the Province of Holland experimented with a reduced-weight scheepjesschelling, producing trial strikes to evaluate the proposed type before committing to full production. The scheepjesschelling — named for the small ship that had appeared on Holland provincial coinage since the sixteenth century — was a workhorse denomination in domestic trade, and any adjustment to its weight carried real economic implications for merchants calibrating against accepted silver tariffs.

At 1.14g, this piece sits well below the standard circulation weight, consistent with a uniface or single-die trial rather than a finished coin. The 1670 reform discussions ultimately produced only limited output.