4255

1574 Leiden "Prayer Book" Money

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:200.00 USD Estimated At:NA
1574 Leiden  Prayer Book  Money
SOLD
900.00USD+ buyer's premium (180.00)
This item SOLD at 2021 Mar 12 @ 13:02UTC-8 : PST/AKDT
Lot: 4255
Header:
Title: 1574 Leiden "Prayer Book" Money
Description: Netherlands, Leiden, besieged by the Spanish, May 26-October 3, 1574. When the Dutch revolted against harsh Spanish rule, beginning the Eighty Years' War, the Spanish attempted to crush them by sending the merciless Duke of Alba. Massacres took place even at cities that surrendered to him. The Dutch leader William the Silent, Prince of Orange, asked Leiden to hold out for three months and he would relieve them. The only communication with Leiden was by carrier pigeon; on August 21, the mayor informed the Prince that they had held out for three months, two with food and one without food. The only possible relief was by sea, so the Dutch cut the dykes and approached in over 200 flat-bottomed boats. Progress was slow, and it took over two months to reach Leiden, at which point the Spanish retreated and the city was saved, though thousands had starved to death and almost 8,000 more died from an outbreak of the plague.
Leiden minted coins in gold, silver, and copper during the siege, but when the mayor requisitioned all metal for weapons and ammunition, they pasted together pages from precious Books of Hours, hymnals, and even the Holy Bible, to make pasteboard planchets to strike coins. (This is the first official paper money issued in Europe.) 5 sols 1574, paper; Lion with sword/legend; two validation counterstamps. Mailliet 3. VF, small planchet clip. Rare and in great demand. See Opitz, p. 272 (this example illustrated, top right).
Low Estimate: 500
High Estimate: 1000
Pedigree Collection: Ex Karl Stephens fixed price list 1986-1991, no. 008.