Scales and Weights
In the 17th century, gold was still the metal used for large-scale international
transactions. Because of the multiplicity of denominations, merchants needed to
weigh coins in order to determine the proper exchange value. Shown here is a scale
of 1628 along with some of the coins types its owner would have seen while
conducting his business.
Set of scales and weights produced by Guilliam
de Neve in 1628.
0000.999.49520
Dutch gold rose noble (1583) of
Campen depicting a king on a ship.
Flemish gold rose noble of Ghent
depicting a king on a ship.
Dutch gold 1/2 cavalier (1613) of
Gelderland showing a charging knight.
Dutch gold double ducat of Zeeland
depicting the king and queen of Spain.
Hungarian gold ducat (1598)
depicting King Rudolf II in full armor.
Dutch gold 1/2 cavalier (1616) of
Overijssel showing a charging knight.
Dutch gold angel (1531-1577) of
Thorn with a scene of St. Michael slaying a dragon.
French gold écu (1607) of Henry IV
displaying the coat of arms of France.
Spanish gold escudo (1607) with
an image of a cross.
dutch gold goldgulden (1497) with
the image of a globe surmounted by cross.