Currencies/Dutch meeuw
From Collectors Collecting Wiki
Introduction
The Dutch Meeuw (Dutch: Meeuw, meaning “Seagull”) was a silver coin minted in the Duchy of Guelders (Gelderland) during the early 15th century. It was part of the local monetary system of the medieval Netherlands and functioned as a multiple of the groot denomination. The Meeuw was issued under Duke Reinoud IV of Jülich and Guelders (1402–1423) and is one of the more distinctive provincial coins of that era.
History
The Meeuw appeared in the early 1400s, when each Dutch province or duchy maintained its own mint and coinage system. During the rule of Reinoud IV, the Duchy of Guelders produced a variety of silver coins to facilitate trade within the Rhine and IJssel regions.
The most notable of these was the 4-Groot Meeuw, struck in the Arnhem Mint between 1402 and 1423. Smaller denominations, including a ¼ Meeuw, were also produced for lower-value transactions.
The coin’s name likely came from local usage or symbolism associated with trade and navigation, as the meeuw (seagull) was a familiar maritime reference in the Netherlands. Though no bird imagery appears on the coin itself, its name became part of local monetary terminology in Guelders.
Coins
Meeuw coins were hammer-struck silver pieces, characterized by intricate medieval designs and irregular shapes.
The 4-Groot Meeuw featured the combined arms of Jülich and Guelders under a helmet on the obverse, symbolizing Reinoud IV’s rule over both territories. The reverse bore a long cross with a central shield and lions or eagles in the quarters—typical motifs of the region’s coinage.
Metal Silver
Denominations 4 Groot Meeuw and ¼ Meeuw
Weight Approximately 2.5 g (4 Groot) and 0.89 g (¼ Meeuw)
Mint Arnhem
Period c. 1402–1423
The coins circulated throughout the Duchy of Guelders and adjacent territories, complementing other denominations such as the duit, groot, and stuiver.
Currency
1 Meeuw = 4 Groots
The Meeuw was valued within the regional groot-based monetary system, a structure common in the Low Countries before decimalization. It served as a convenient trade coin for moderate transactions and was frequently mentioned in medieval accounting records of Arnhem and Nijmegen.
Smaller fractions like the ¼ Meeuw allowed for flexibility in day-to-day commerce, especially in local markets.
Legacy
The Dutch Meeuw reflects the regional diversity of medieval coinage in the Netherlands, when each province issued its own denominations and designs. It represents an early stage in the evolution of Dutch currency, long before the unification brought by the Dutch Republic.
Today, the Meeuw coins are considered rare and historically significant, offering insight into the economic life of Guelders during the early 15th century. Numismatists value them for their craftsmanship, heraldic design, and their place in the lineage of Dutch silver coinage.