Schelling of Zeeland, United Provinces of the Netherlands, from the wreck of the ZUYTDORP
Date1711
Object number00052256
NameCoin
MediumSilver
DimensionsOverall: 25 mm, 5 g
ClassificationsCoins and medals
Credit LineANMM Collection Transferred from Australian Netherlands Committee on Old Dutch Shipwrecks
DescriptionThe VOC ship ZUYTDORP left the Netherlands on 1 August 1711 bound for the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia) and was wrecked off the coast of Western Australia. It was carrying a large cargo of silver bullion, of which this is one piece. HistoryThe ZUYTDORP was built for the Dutch East India Company (VOC) as a cargo ship. On 1 August 1711 it left the Netherlands for Batavia in the Dutch East Indies carrying a large consignment of newly minted silver coins. It was wrecked off the coast of Western Australia between Kalbarri and Shark Bay. It is now protected under the Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976.SignificanceAssociated with the oldest Dutch shipwreck discovered on the Australian coast this silver coin is representative of European presence near the Australian continent in the 17th century.
