Watch List notes:

Netherlands, 1573. Klippe. Klippe. 1573. Middleburg-Siege Coinage. Klippe/ Netherlands Kroon, Copper. Vanhoudt-464. Very rare. AU55, NGC. The Siege of Middelburg (Dec 1572 – Feb 1574) was a tumultuous event taking place during the Eighty Years' War and the Anglo-Spanish War. This coin dated 1573 was actually made from the dies which originally made gold Kroon's at the time. It was explained to me by Hugo Vanhoudt, a leading authority in Dutch coins, that the dies for these were abandoned in the town hall after the siege. The dies, being the central circular part of the coin with the text, were then used to restrike the coins in copper and in silver (as noted in his book). The punches with the lion and tower were added separately by provinces. Although we have yet to see another of these copper Klippes on the market, you can see two examples which are in the Royal Library of Belgium, Coin Cabinet, Brussels. Inventory number F38 /12 and F38/10.