The Netherlands 2023: Collectors coins

[eurocoin]

The Ministry of Finance of the Netherlands currently holds a public consultation to obtain suggestions for the theme of a Dutch 5 euro collectors coin that will be issued in 2023. The person who submits the theme that is being chosen for the coin, will be invited to attend the ceremonial first strike ceremony. There are a few conditions that a suggested theme has to meet. Submitting a reply to the consultation is possible on this page.

Conditions:

- Everyone can nominate 1 theme.
- Each entry must be substantiated. An entry must contain at least:
A clear description of the theme, linked to a special fact, event or person;
Why the theme is of special importance to the Netherlands;
why the theme is suitable for a collector's coin;
how the theme distinguishes itself from previous themes;
why 2023 is the perfect time to issue a coin with this theme.

- If it is a commemoration, the theme should be logically linked to an anniversary year (25, 50, 75, 100 years, etc.).
- People who are still alive do not qualify for the theme of a collector's coin.
- The entry should not exceed one A4 page.
- You can only submit a theme. Coin designs are not taken into consideration.

[eurocoin]

The themes that were chosen for the 5 euro collectors coins of the Netherlands for 2023 are:

- Historic inner city of Willemstad, Curaçao, UNESCO world heritage
- 50 years since the recognition of the LHBTI organisation COC

The UNESCO coin will be released in the spring and the COC coin in the autumn.
There was decided to continue the UNESCO world heritage 5 euro coin series.

Source

[Figleaf]

IIRC, neither theme was mentioned in the public consultation.

Peter

[eurocoin]

The recognition of the COC was mentioned a few times. It was, as far as is known, not the theme that was mentioned the most. The COC was the theme that was chosen from the consultation. There is always only 1 theme being chosen from the consultation. The theme of the second coin is being chosen by the finance secretary/treasury.

[chrisild]

- Historic inner city of Willemstad, Curaçao, UNESCO world heritage

This is the design of the Willemstad €5 (and €10 gold) coin. Will be available as from early February, I think.

https://knm-cdn.azureedge.net/cmsdata/artikelen/fotos/1/1/5/0115394/0115394_main_or_3.jpg
https://knm-cdn.azureedge.net/cmsdata/artikelen/fotos/1/1/5/0115394/0115394_main_or_4.jpg

Yeah, royal portraits are tough.

[eurocoin]

On 2 February, the first strike ceremony of the Willemstad 5 euro coin will take place in Willemstad, Curaçao, as part of a visit by the Dutch royal family to all of the Dutch Caribbean islands in recent weeks. It will be the first time ever that a legal tender coin is struck on the island, although the coin itself is not legal tender on Curaçao.

[eurocoin]

Curaçao and Sint Maarten will issue the exact same coin, with the only difference being the denomination '5 gulden'.
Below the coin of the Netherlands can be seen, and underneath it the piece of Curaçao and Sint Maarten.

[chrisild]

Oh well, why not use the same design? What I find a little peculiar though: Seems there will not be any reference to the issuing authority/territory on the 5 gulden coin. Sure, the piece says King of the Netherlands, but so does the 5 euro coin.

[chrisild]

This is the design of the second collector coin (COC), designed by Coen van Ham. More about the piece, and the various varieties it comes in, can be found here.

The term "recognition" is a little ambiguous maybe. What it refers to is explained by the KNM: "In 1964, something happens on Dutch National television that has never happened before: chairman of the COC and gay man Benno Premsela is shown openly on screen. That is unheard of in those times, because until this moment, lesbian, gay and bisexual people were only shown on screen from the back or with a bar in front of their eyes. (...) A little less than 10 years later, on September 19th 1973, the COC receives their long-awaited royal approval."

(PS: Now I understand this approval thing. In the Netherlands, such a royal act was required until 1976, see here.)

[eurocoin]

I was surprised to find the design several weeks ago online, as someone involved in the development of the coin had mistakenly published it, then deleted it, but the internet forgets nothing. I think the coin looks ok, although the theme is not clear. I do not like the designs of the coincards at all.

[chrisild]

Yes, the design is a little obscure. If you know what it is about, you can more or less easily see the "COC" in the center. That side I find OK. The king's portrait, hmm.

[eurocoin]

While looking online, I found a few unrealised designs for the 50 years of the coc coin. In total 9 artists were asked to submit a design.

Dennis Koot depicted a group of protesters holding a banner with the word 'Erkenning' (recognition) on it on the reverse. The protesters also raise other symbols related to the struggle of equal rights for LGBTI+ people, respectively a triangle, rainbow flag and the first logo of the COC. The banner forms the letter C. The letter O in the middle contains the 6 stripes of the rainbow flag. A third banner forms the second C. On the obverse the design depicts an arc that could be interpreted as a rainbow, a circle and triangle, as well as the portrait of HM King Willem-Alexander.




Dutch engraver and die sinker Lei Lennaerts depicted the abbreviation COC on the reverse, as well as a reference to the abolishment of art. 248 bis from the Dutch law, which is considered to have been discriminating. The article mentioned that gay men could not engage into relationships with minors (under 21 years of age). Straight people could marry from age 16 at the time. On the obverse a triangle is depicted as a reference to the former symbol for equal rights with article 1 of the Dutch consitution (in regard of equality) written on it. The triangle also represents a prism at which a beam of light is being pointed from the backside. This forms a rainbow, that can also be seen on the reverse design. Furthermore the obverse depicts a portrait of HM King Willem-Alexander.