Gold and silver coins from the Akerendam shipwreck (1725)

Akerendam was a merchant vessel owned by the Dutch Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie, originally bound for Batavia. For unknown reasons, the ship sailed in the wrong direction and ended up off the coast of Norway, where it wrecked near Runde in Sunnmøre in March 1725. The entire crew – including Captain Niclaas de Roy – perished. The wreck was rediscovered in 1972, and the treasure recovered from the seabed is considered the richest coin find in postwar Norwegian history. The rare Utrecht ducat from 1724 stands out in particularly fine, uncirculated condition.

This original box stems from one of the earliest sales following the discovery and contains the following coins:

• Netherlands, Utrecht, ducat 1724 (gold!). A rare coin in excellent condition, known only from the Akerendam find. Fr. 284; KM 7.1; Rønning 1. 3,57 grams.
• Netherlands, Gelderland(?), ducaton 16XX (“silver rider”). Two coins. Dav. 4923; KM 41.1. 25,5 grams; 23,02 grams.
• Mexico, Philip V, 8 reales 1700–1724. Three coins. KM 47; Rønning 5. 26,1 grams ; 25,71 grams; 20,37 grams.
• Netherlands, Holland, 2 stuiver 1724. Six coins. KM 48; Rønning 4. Total weight: 8,13 grams.

Despite spending centuries on the seabed, the coins are remarkably well preserved.

Protocol no. 5872