The Netherlands: Collectors Coins 2004-2017

[eurocoin]

60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War - 2005

In 2005 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, the Netherlands issued a 5 euro commemorative coin. 11 designers were invited to submit a design of which 6 accepted the invitation. Ab van Hanegem and Jean Bernard Koeman were later asked to elaborate their designs somewhat more. The winning design, which can be seen above, was made by Suzan Drummen. She placed the portrait of Queen Beatrix as well as the figure of the denomination in a central position, which is a traditional composition. Ms Drummen found that suitable as the coin looks back 60 years. The dots on the reverse are in relief, while on the same places on the obverse incuse dots can be seen. Because of that both sides are connected to each other and the coin looks somewhat like a small ball. The commission did not really like the line portrait. The designer suggested the making of a modelled portrait, a suggestion the commission quite liked but as that would take too much time there was chosen for the line portrait. As the commission did not like the lettering on the coin, all of it was later changed. The original design can be seen here. The marks of the mint and mintmaster as well as the Europe star and the date on it together formed a crown above the 5.

[eurocoin]

Ritsaert ten Cate depicted on his design for the obverse 3 effigies of the Queens of the Netherlands after WWII. The commission found that the obverse looked too much like the 50 gulden coin of 1990. On the reverse he depicted a man standing with his arms raised to the sky and his fists clenched. This can both be a sign of great sadness or of outrageous joy. The commission wondered if people would recognize that meaning. Furthermore the commission doubted that during the realization would be achieved what Mr Ten Cate had in mind, this as he was unable to make the plaster molds himself.

[eurocoin]

Karel Goudsblom on his obverse design a starry sky and a portrait of Queen Beatrix. The hair of the Queen fans out into pennants which continue on the reverse. These pennants represent the happiness about the fact that the Netherlands is again a free country and that peace has been restored. The stars together form the outline of the portrait. The commission found that the designs do have a certain attraction. Although according to the commission the reverse does have some nice effects, they found it looked somewhat messy and that it lacked expresiveness. They also remarked the reverse has not much to do with the theme of the coin.

[eurocoin]

Ab van Hanegem depicted on the reverse a brushstroke which represents a waving pennant. Furthermore it represents freedom of expression, of language and of speech. The commission very much liked the obverse but found that the reverse would not add much to the coin as the theme of the coin is also featured on the obverse.

[eurocoin]

Jean Bernard Koeman used hot air balloons which stand for silence and space as synonyms for peace and freedom. The portrait on the obverse was not a good likeness according to the commission. The commission liked the handwritten text below the effigy. They felt that the hot air balloons that he drew were not a good likeness and looked more like safety nets.

[eurocoin]

Bea Stienstra chose a classic design which symbolizes lying on your back looking at the clouds, because during the war the danger often came from that same sky. The commission found the designs nice but also found that the reverse design was not related enough to the theme of the coin. They thought that the artist's message was not clear enough and that even additional lettering would not have made it any clearer. The members also remarked that it would be difficult to achieve a good likeness of the clouds on the minted coin.