Silver Ducat “Sabelspoort” 2024

Silver Ducats are commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Finance and are collector coins. The issue depicting 'Sabelspoort' is part and also the second issue of the brand-new series “Dutch city gates and access roads”. Are you also collecting these coins?

Part 4: Sabelspoort in Arnhem: last gate standing

For the fourth part in our series, we travel to the Dutch province of Gelderland. Here, in the city of Arnhem, you can find the Sabelspoort. This gate was built in 1357 and is one of four gates in the city. The only difference is that the other gates, the Rijnpoort, St. Janspoort and the Velperpoort do no longer exist. The Sabelspoort is the only one that withstood the test of time. The gate has had many different functions. It was mostly used as a defense, but later it was also used to place mentally challenged people, which led to a new nickname: ‘Crazy Tower’. 

In the 17th century, the gate was restored. Slowly, houses were built around the Sabelspoort and the gate was completely enclosed. But, in World War II, and the Battle of Arnhem, the surrounded houses were badly damaged. After the war, those houses were demolished and the gate stood free again, to this day. The gate itself was also damaged but remained relatively intact. The Sabelspoort now connects the Rijnkade with the market area in the city. Every day, people walk and cycle under one of the oldest monuments in the city that is more than six centuries old! 

Duke Karel van Egmond

In the previous series (Dutch Castles), knight Godard de Ginkell was on the coin. According to the Dutch Mint Act, a knight in armour should be on the coin. This time, Karel van Egmond (1467 – 1538) is taking over this honor. This armored man on the obverse of the coin was an important duke of several areas in the Netherlands. During his reign, he had to deal with threats from emperor Charles V. He also was the last independent feudal ruler of the Netherlands. For this new series, Karel van Egmond will be on the Silver Ducat. 

Design

The obverse of the Silver Ducat “Sabelspoort” depicts Duke Karel van Egmond in front of the famous building. The province weapon of Gelderland can be found on his shield. The inscription on this issue reads: “MO.NO.ARG.REG.BELGII.GEL.”. “MO.NO.ARG.REG.BELGII.GEL.” is the Latin abbreviation for “Moneta Nova Argenta Regni Belgii”: New Silver coin of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. GEL stands for the province of Gelderland.  

On the reverse of the Silver Ducat, the national coat of arms of the Netherlands with the Royal Crown between the numbers of the year can be found. The inscription reads: “CONCORDIA RES PARVAE CRESCUNT”, Unity makes Strength. Here you can also find the mint mark and the privy mark. As requested by many, the packaging for the new series is adjusted. The Silver Ducat is in a smaller packaging that not only takes up less space, but also fits in the mailbox.