Interesting XRF outcome for my 400 year old Dutch rijksdaaler

Discussion in 'Numismatics' started by Acorn, Jul 16, 2020.

  1. Acorn

    Acorn Well-Known Member

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    As a kid I used to drool over all the old silver shipwreck coins from the Dutch VOC wrecks off the West Australian coast. The West Australian Maritime Museum have heaps from these old wrecks.

    While in Amsterdam last year I visited the Rijksmuseum to see Dirk Hartogs 1616 Pewter Plate. The previous occasion I was in Amsterdam, the Dirk’s plate was on tour in Australia!

    While in Amsterdam, I visited a coin shop and bought a few sovereigns and was taken by a big silver Rijksdaaler minted in Overijssel in 1620. I bought it but later was concerned it may not have been silver. The coin did not ring as most silver coins do. The coin did have a small crack in it’s edge. It’s the coin shown in my avatar.

    Today I dropped into Bullion Now in Melbourne. I took my big Rijksdaaler with me in the hope to have it XRF’d. Ruben from Bullion Now happily tested it.

    This was the result:

    Ag. 93.56%
    Cu. 5.92%
    Pb. 0.326%
    Au. 0.19%

    it appears my coin is legit. I didn’t expect the silver content to be so high or for it to include Lead and Gold!

    Many thanks Bullion Now for testing my only coin!
     
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  2. serial

    serial Well-Known Member Silver Stacker

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  3. tongkat

    tongkat Active Member Silver Stacker

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    Nice coin
     
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  4. Acorn

    Acorn Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for posting my images Serial!
     
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  5. 66rounds

    66rounds Well-Known Member Silver Stacker

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    Beautiful coin and great result! The purity of old coinage is very surprising.
     
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  6. Acorn

    Acorn Well-Known Member

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    66rounds, yes, the early Rijksdaalers are supposed to be .885 fine silver.

    The XRF outcome of this one was a real surprise!
     
  7. Silver Soul

    Silver Soul Well-Known Member Silver Stacker

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    VOC silver I absolutely love it, and have dived most of the wrecks here in WA. Nice coin too bro
     
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  8. kilo

    kilo Well-Known Member Silver Stacker

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    Very nice coin Acorn, thanks for sharing the xrf and the back story, awsome. XRF result goes in the little black book ;)
     
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  9. Jason1

    Jason1 Well-Known Member

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    May i ask how much something like that set you back? What is the wieght of it?
     
  10. Silver Soul

    Silver Soul Well-Known Member Silver Stacker

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    It was about 1972 when Allan Robinson Co founder of the Dutch wreck "Guilt Dragon" got me into diving as a youngster. He showed me a hoarded of silver he took from that wreck back then, & since that day I fell in love with it and have always pursued silver ever since. :D.... SS member Serial knows the passion don't ya bro
     
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  11. Jason1

    Jason1 Well-Known Member

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    Many times ive had to stop my self from the temptation of buying a coin from that wreck lol. Its such a cool thing.
    One day ill cave and buy one, lol

    Have you personally had luck finding coins on your dives?
    There wouldnt be many things cooler than finding legit shipwreck treasure
     
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  12. Acorn

    Acorn Well-Known Member

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    Jason1, my Rijksdaaler weighs .915 toz or 28.45gm.

    0.915 x 0.9356 = 0.856 toz of Silver. This lines up with the Wiki entry for early rijksdaalers.

    I thought it meant the coins were supposed to be 0.885% silver but it must mean the coins contain 0.885 of a troy Oz of Silver.

    Given the wear on my old coin, the weight is pretty close to what it should be.

    Hopefully there is someone more knowledgeable on these old Dutch pieces on the forum.

    BTW, I think it cost me about €100. No idea if it was a good deal, I just wanted it. :)
     
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  13. mmm....shiney!

    mmm....shiney! Administrator Staff Member Silver Stacker

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    Drool
     
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  14. Silver Soul

    Silver Soul Well-Known Member Silver Stacker

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    serial has a 8 from the gilt dragon for sale @Jason1 legal to own too. Pm him. Hurry because although I have one I am hunting spare cash to buy it off him after my missus stops robbing my money for her gold :D
     
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  15. Jason1

    Jason1 Well-Known Member

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    Thanks mate. Seems fair price to me, thought it would have been more, but im no coin collector so no idea either.
     
  16. wrcmad

    wrcmad Well-Known Member Silver Stacker

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    Oh yeah. Fkn nice coin. :)
     
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  17. JohnnyBravo300

    JohnnyBravo300 Well-Known Member Silver Stacker

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    That's cool!
     
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