1802 Ships Half Gulden NGC AU58

 1802 "Ships" Half Gulden NGC AU58

Mintage : Unknown

NGC and PCGS; The Half Gulden has the lowest number of this family of Ships Guldens and their fractions graded and is seldom offered for sale, especially in graded form.

History: 

According to Engelbrecht (Money in South Africa), the Scheepjesgulden was the first currency made for the growing Cape of Good Hope. The brain child of Commissioner J.A. de Mist who acted as Governor for the new Batavian Republic of the Netherlands that succeded the bankrupt VOC.

The fractions, ie Half, Quarter, Eighth and Sixteenth were circulated at the Cape especially when the British took over in 1806 under Sir David Baird to relieve the shortage of small currency there at the time. The full one Gulden minted was not used at the Cape and saw circulation only in Batavia (modern Indonesia) according to Engelbrecht.

Coin was struck at Enkhuizen and according to Scholten (pg66), was primarily intended for use at the Cape of Good Hope.

Mintmaster: Hessel Slyper

Obverse: shows an East Indiaman in full sale -three varieties depending on main mast position relative to inscription (490c)

Reverse : Crowned shield of the United Netherlands within a rope circle. Star- the mint mark of Enkhuizen and Hoorn

Considerable overseas interest exists for these coins due to the multinational colonization of the VOC.

Condition:

Even toning and clear details 

Regret no overseas buyers or Paypal

Thanks for looking