Netherlands: 1 gulden 1940 - Resistance propaganda restrike

[<k>]

My thanks to our forum member eurocoin, who is Dutch, for this story.

This is a modern restrike of a 1 guilder coin of Queen Wilhelmina. During the Second World War, people would alter the silver coins of Wilhelmina as a silent way of resistance. It was mandatory for the Dutch to hand in their silver coins to the Germans but many people did not. The original lettering minted on the coins is WILHELMINA KONINGIN DER NEDERLANDEN. However, during the Occupation the Dutch used to grind off the letters in red and alter the A (in LANDEN) into an O, making the inscription read: WILHELMINA IN LONDEN. They also added an helmet to the portrait.

The piece you show me is a modern restrike that was not actually altered. It has become impossible to tell whether one of the actual altered pieces was altered during the war or in modern times. Unfortunately there are many pieces around that were altered in modern times. Many collectors therefore do not bother to collect them any more.

I have explained before the love for Wilhelmina, who up until this day is still honoured by many older Dutch women, who wear a necklace with a coin of Wilhelmina on it. While in high school in Belgium, a bit to my surprise, I even saw a Belgian female staff member with Dutch roots, in her 40's or 50's, wearing such a necklace.

RELATED TOPICS

The Netherlands Under Nazi Occupation.

Comments on "The Netherlands Under Nazi Occupation".

The Netherlands: Unrealised war coins by Nico de Haas.

Image copyright of The Coin House.

[Figleaf]

I used to have an original. The alteration was not some kind of national hobby, but a way for Dutch Jewish coin dealer Jacques Schulman to liquidate the common part of his stock while in hiding.

Peter

[radars_teddy]

where does one aquire something like that aside from the streets of Delft?

[Figleaf]

They are common in the Netherlands, but there are more imitations than originals. Try MA-shops from time to time.

Peter

[radars_teddy]

I thought they were in NY now.

[Figleaf]

The family split up before the second world war. Some settled in the US. Jacques and his family remained in Amsterdam.

Peter