Hoedjesschelling Gold, 2 ducats weight

The hoedjesschelling was a distinctly Zeelandic denomination, issued by a province that jealously guarded its minting privileges throughout the Dutch Republic period. Zeeland's mint at Middelburg operated with considerable independence, and these double-ducat weight pieces were produced to satisfy trade demands rather than domestic circulation — the weight standard made them directly useful in Baltic and Levantine commerce where ducat-weight gold was accepted by assay rather than face value.

The span of dates across this type reflects multiple die periods rather than continuous striking; Delmonte's separation into G#905 and G#907 indicates distinct emission phases, likely tied to provincial treasury decisions.