I relish finding a 16th century ship coin.
Post-medieval sails are not easy to find, and this Dutch Cog is certainly an
old vessel. The coin – a jetton, actually – is dated 1577, but the ship has old
styling. Cog ships were common in the
North Sea from about the 12th century on – it was a popular design,
particularly for cargo vessels, that lasted centuries.
This 1577 Dutch jetton has felt the touch a hundred inquiring fingertips. |
The single main sail hoisted on a central mast gives the
ship it’s distinct, and medieval, look. Two bold stays keep the mast in place.
The aftcastle is multi-decked and towers above the gunwales. I imagine the
forecastle to be impressive as well (although smaller); a hint of a heavy
bowsprit can be seen through the fog of wear. Note the anchors hanging at both
bow and stern.
I suppose one could argue that the ship is an early Carrack,
but we need to see more sails for that. The gunwales are arched with a rounded
stern, a characteristic that reflects both cogs and carracks. Of course, ship
designs evolved slowly, bit by bit.
This ship is on a starboard tact. The legend above the ship
– PORT SALV – suggests that the vessel is entering a safe harbor. The
translation reads: safe passage or safe carry or safe harbor.
A bit of history is needed to interpret the wording along
the edges. The legend – CALCVLI ORDINVM BELGII – translates to: “an establishment
of a united group at Belgium.” More concretely, the words mean a “calculation
of orders in Belgium.” This phase represents the action of the Estates-General of the Netherlands to
unify Ghent against the Spanish, known as the First Union of Brussels.
In January of 1577, seventeen provinces joined together to
oppose the Spanish occupation. This unification is celebrated on this jetton.
And, the merchant ships, I suppose, were safer for it.
The obverse (not shown) has the legend: 1577 CVM PIETATE
CONCORDIA. The words translate to read: “with dutiful harmony.” Clasped hands,
two conjoined hearts, all beneath a crown, make up the design – that pretty
much says it all.
This jetton is pictured in Mitchiner (#2412). His example,
too, shows a ship shrouded by an early morning fog. Unfortunately, the vessel is the first element to
fade away.
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