Old Sails. Dutch Cog Ship is Now Safe in 1577

I relish finding a 16^th 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 12^th 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.

But of course, a cool ship like this has invited centuries of inquiring fingertips – I know this because I have touched it too.