Milestones in the coinage of the Netherlands

Started by eurocoin, July 21, 2016, 09:54:38 AM

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In May 1940, Germany invaded the Netherlands. The German occupier decided to withdraw the circulating coins. By doing so he wanted the Dutch people get used to Germanic symbols. Furthermore the German occupier wanted to obtain the valuable materials (bronze and silver) out of which the previous coins were made. A series of zinc coins was issued in 1941. The new series did not include 1/2 cent, 1/2 guilder, 1 guilder and 2,5 guilder coins. It was the first thematic coin series of the Netherlands. The designs were made by Nazi artist Nico de Haas.

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The 1 cent coin depicts a straight cross in a typical Dutch writing style.

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The 2,5 cents coin depicts an 'Oelebord' which was included as a symbol for the Frisian part of the Dutch people. This 'Oelebord' is mounted to the roofs of many (former) barns in the Dutch province of Friesland. Typically the wood panel is cut in the form of a tulip in the middle flanked by 2 swans, although many variations exist. Although the 'Oelebord' these days is only decoration, in the past the board had a hole in the middle for ventilation and for owls to fly in and out of the barn.

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The 5 cents coin depicts wooden horse heads mounted on the roof of a house. These can be seen throughout the Saxony land.

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The 25 cents coin depicts a Viking ship. With this the artist wanted to represent the special nature of the Dutch as seafaring people and the hard but unbroken life on the shores.

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In March 1942, all pre-war coins were withdrawn from circulation. Although it was prohibited to keep any of the pre-war coins, relatively few coins were handed in. After the war all of the previously withdrawn pre-war coins became legal tender again and circulated next to the zinc coins that were issued during the war.

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In 1948, the Netherlands issued new coins of 1, 5, 10 and 25 cents. The coins circulated next to the pre-war and war coins. The 5 cent denomination, which for 30 years had been a square coin, became round again. The pieces were designed by Louis Oswald Wenckebach. They were being minted for several years without a change of the date.

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The 5 cent coin depicts a fruitful orange branch.

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In 1948, Queen Wilhelmina abdicated. Juliana became the new queen of the Netherlands. In 1950 the first coins were issued with her portrait. It was made by Ludwig Oswald Wenckebach.

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The coinage act 1948 stipulated that almost all coins that were issued prior to 1948 had to be demonetized. Only the silver 1 and 2,5 guilder pieces remained legal tender. The demonetization process happened in different phases.

On 15 August 1950, the pre-war 5 and 25 cent pieces were demonetized as well as the zinc 5 and 25 cent coins.

On 15 September 1952, the zinc 1 cent coin was demonetized.

On 15 December 1953,  the pre-war bronze 1 cent coin as well as the zinc 10 cent coin were demonetized.

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In 1954, the reverse of the 1 guilder coin was updated. The same change was made to the 2,5 guilder coin in 1959. To the left the previous design can be seen and to the right the updated reverse. The new design was made by Ludwig Oswald Wenckebach.