W. C a r e w H a z l i t t Coinage of the European Continent

Descriptive Outline of the Coinages of Europe 407
of its
importance and splendour. The names of Frederic of
Blankenheim (1393-1425), Rodolph of Diepholt (1433-56),
and, above all, David of Burgundy (1457-96), are associated
with an interesting, rich, and curious succession of gold
types, culminating in that of the last mentioned with
Memento. Domine. David, and a half-length figure of David
playing on the harp. Many of these pieces are rare and
the Dutch market.
valuable, and command a high price in
THE UNITED PROVINCES
This Federal organisation, dating from 1579, when
Holland, West Friesland, Groningen, Zeeland, Gueldres,
Utrecht, and Overijssel entered on the movement which
promptly resulted, under the leadership of William the
Silent, in the abandonment of this part of the Low Countries
by the Spaniards, is responsible for an immense volume of
coinage, commencing with money of necessity or of a special
character struck, under the wise original compact or understanding,
by the respective members of the Union on their
separate account, but ultimately, when affairs became
more settled, developing into the system of each state issuing
its own currency at a fixed standard for general circulation.
Here we find the basis, which Switzerland at the
present moment desires to establish, anticipated by a couple
of centuries.
Some idea of the extent of this portion or branch of the
Netherland series alone must have been formed by such as
have studied the numerous monographs and are acquainted
with the contents of the great collections, either existing
or dispersed. In the Catalogues an effort has been made to
convey as much information as -possible within a moderate
be said to
compass and a definite plan. The coinage may
range between 1579 and 1794, or thereabout; and it
divides itself into the domestic or internal and the colonial