Lot 146

25 Cent 1817 U struck in bronze, with plain edge and large mint- and mintmaster's mark (Sch. 285 RR / L Sch.288a R3 / Vgl. KM 48) Obv. Crowned monogram between 18 – 17. Rev. crowned coat of arms between 25 – C. NGC PF65 BN - Proof - Cert. # 8361716-003 - Extremely Rare and highly attractive specimen! After the rejection of the first patterns from April 1817 with a large mint- and mintmaster mark and a reeded edge, a second trial strike was made with smaller marks and struck using a steel collar ('in de ring') creating a smooth edge. This second mintage of October 11, 1817 was initially well received and a week later 6 specimens were sent to Minister Six for review. By royal decree on November 26, 1816, it was established that henceforth the mint and mintmaster mark was to be present on all Dutch coinage. Minister Six proposed the use of “a staff of Mercury with the serpents” as the mint mark for the Utrecht Mint. Mintmaster Y.D.C. Suermondt proposed a bust or puppet like the one that appears as the helmet sign above his family crest as the mintmaster mark. In the royal decree this mintmaster mark is described as a bust, in the corridors of the Utrecht mint it was soon referred to as 'Suermondt's baby wrapped in blankets'., ex collection Vinkenborg