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Real `Leicester real` Piedfort at double weight
| Issuer | Province of Gelderland (Dutch Republic) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1586 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | 58 g |
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|---|---|
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| Reverse description | Central device of a bound fasces of arrows — the symbol of the Union of Utrecht — enclosed within a wreath or decorative frame, surrounded by six heraldic shields representing the signatory provinces of the Dutch Republic, arranged in a circle beginning at approximately one o'clock and proceeding clockwise: Gelre, Flanders, Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, and Friesland. The peripheral legend runs along the outer field within a beaded border, encircling the entire heraldic composition. The date 1586 is incorporated into the legend. The overall design reflects the collective sovereignty of the federated provinces. |
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| Mintage | 1586 |
| Additional information |
Gelderland struck piedfort issues like this one not for circulation but as presentation pieces — given to diplomats, municipal officials, or prominent creditors as tokens of institutional goodwill. The province was chronically short of funds throughout the 1580s, fighting on multiple fronts against Spanish forces while simultaneously managing the political fallout of Leicester's disastrous tenure as governor-general, appointed by Elizabeth I in 1586 and resented almost immediately by the States-General for overstepping his authority.
The double-weight format placed this squarely in the gift economy of the Dutch Revolt, where a heavy silver piece carried more political weight than its metal value alone.