Imitation Lion daaler

Date1603

Issued by Camillo d'Austria

MediumSilver

DimensionsDiameter: 42 mm Weight: 400.2 grains

Credit LineGift of the Lasser family

Object number2005-78

DescriptionObverse: Knight standing to left and looking to right. Shield bearing rampant lion in front of his legs.

Reverse: Rampant lion to left.
Label TextIn the 17th and 18th centuries, Dutch military and commercial fleets cruised almost every ocean trade route and entered virtually every seaport, making Dutch coinage second only to Spain's famous "pieces of eight" and "Pillar dollars" in world trade.

Of these Dutch issues, the most notable were the Lion dollars, which bore a shielded knight on the obverse and a rampant lion on the reverse. Everywhere Dutch sailors and merchants traded, Lion dollars, also popularly known as "Dog dollars" were readily accepted.

For the ease of worldwide trade, imitation Lion Dollars was struck throughout Europe during the period. No less than fourteen Italian cities struck Lion Dollars, with Corregio being the most prolific producer.

Gamberini-11
InscribedObverse: "MO NO CAM AVS CO CO" and date flanking sheild.

Reverse: "CONFIDENS DNO NON MOVETUR" (Confidence in the Lord is unmoving).
ProvenanceFrankfurter Munzhandlung #149 (7-1-98, lot 1145)