© Frank H. Jump
© Frank H. Jump
Seal of The Province of New Netherland, 1623
Two shields constitute the center of the seal. Superimposed upon a larger shield is a small shield depicting, in diagonal position, a beaver. A string of wampum, the dominant motif of the larger shield, encircles the small shield. Directly above the two shields and forming the crest is a count’s coronet positioned between single stars. Encircling the two shields is the printed legend, SIGILLUM NOVI BELGII. The whole is encircled by a sharply serrated wreath.The beaver, signifying continuing prosperity, was the commodity upon which the original commerce of New Netherland was founded. In this era, both the beaver skin and wampum were used as money. The coronet of the count demonstrates that the Province of New Netherland had the armorial rights of a countship. The legend, SIGILLUM NOVI BELGII or “Seal of the New Belgium”, recalls an earlier time when the Belgium and Dutch Netherlands were one political entity. – SM Publications – The Resource Center for Silver Collectors, Dealers & Appraisers
