Martin Holtzhey was born in Ulm, Germany in 1697 and died in Middelburg, the Netherlands in 1764. he was a medaillist and mint master, active in the Netherlands.. he was the father of the medallist Joann Georg Holtzhey. Martin or Martinus worked in Amsterdam, The Hague, Middelburg and Hardewijk. In 1725 he entered the silversmith guild of Amsterdam. He starting striking medals for special occasions and made a name with for himself among collectors in this way, making medal for major events, to mark an anniversary or simply to herald in a new year.
in 1749 he handed his workshop in Amsterdam over to his son Johann Georg and moved to Hardewijk to became mint master of Gelderland. He commemorated this with a medal in his own honor.
In 1754 he became mint master of Zeeland in Middelburg. This is the same year that a strange penny piece was coined in Middelburg and named 'Zeeuwse Duit'or Ementor duit. On this coin should be mentioned 'Luctor et Emergo'(I struggle and emerge) but it was coined 'Luctor et Ementor'( I struggle and go under). Probably it was a joked played by his son Martin jr. who assisted his father until he took over his position as mint master.
