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Auction: 312 - Numismatic Collector's Series Sale
Lot: 1507

Netherlands, Siege of Haarlem. 1572 1 Daalder Klippe. VF. Demonte-142a. Emission of 21 December 1572. Uniface octagonal strike. Four punches make the design with the central punch being a cross-tipped sword (city coat of arms), and the surrounding punches being the date, a moon and star, and a lion shield inside beaded circle (coat-of-arms of Holland). The surfaces remain even in appearance with a light gray patina. Two small planchet cracks (as-made) are visible upon close inspection and are only noted for accuracy´s sake. A sensational and rare item worthy of the finest Thaler collection. Ex. J.R. Lasser Collection.In late 1572, the Spanish, commanded by Fernando Álvarez, Duke of Alba, besieged Haarlem. With nearly 20,000 troops, the Spanish assumed an easy victory, considering Haarlem had only 6,000 armed men. However, their two attempted assaults (one in December and the next in January of 1573) met with overwhelming resistance and resulted in considerable losses. In an attempt to taunt the Spanish soldiers, the well-supplied townspeople occasionally threw bread over the city walls and mounted statues plundered from Catholic churches on the ramparts. In July 1573, the Spanish were finally able to break the town´s supply line. With its food source gone, Haarlem was forced to surrender, thus ending the 10-month siege. The Spanish, hungry for vengeance, executed more than 1,700 of the town´s citizens.

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$1,900