Dutch East India Company Era – Maritime Coin Concretion Shipwreck Coin Clump?

Dutch East India Company Era – Maritime Coin Concretion

A fascinating assemblage of coins, corroded iron fasteners, stones, and mineral deposits, preserved together in what appears to be a marine concretion.

The most prominent feature is a Dutch silver coin, believed to be a 2-stuiver denomination dating to the 18th century. Additional partially exposed coinage, iron nails or fasteners, and rounded objects are embedded throughout the surrounding material.

Founded in 1602, the Dutch East India Company (VOC) became one of the most influential maritime trading enterprises of the 17th and 18th centuries, establishing extensive commercial networks between Europe and Asia.

Objects such as coins, iron fittings, and other small materials were commonly transported aboard trading vessels during this period. When submerged for extended periods, corrosion and mineral accumulation can bind separate objects together into formations known as marine concretions.

This unusual assemblage offers an intriguing glimpse into the materials associated with historical maritime commerce.

Details:

• Reported origin: Netherlands / Dutch East India Company era
• Estimated period: 18th century
• Composition: Coins, iron objects, stones, and mineral deposits
• Total weight: Approximately 97 grams
• Condition: Heavily encrusted, with visible coin details and substantial corrosion

Historical note: This piece is offered as an apparent maritime concretion. Its precise recovery location, association with a particular shipwreck, and the authenticity and dating of its individual components have not been independently verified.