Netherlands, Wilhelmina, 1941, 1 Cent, Bronze, KM 152

[aws22]

Netherlands, Wilhelmina, 1941, 1 Cent, Bronze, KM 152
KM#152
Weight 2.6 gm
Diameter 19 mm
Metal Bronze
Nice bronze coin.

Maythem

[Figleaf]

This is the middle value in a series of three denominations of the same type: ½, 1 and 2½ cent. In Dutch, money and coin amounts do not get a plural S. They consist of 95% copper, 4% zinc and 1% tin, an alloy known in the Netherlands as mint bronze. The mintmaster sign bunch of grapes is for Dr. W. J. van Heteren, mintmaster from 1933 to May 1942. Niels is preparing a thread on Dutch coins, so I will skip the national arms. The legend contains an error: it should have said KONINKRIJK, not KONINGRIJK. This is because this spelling error was made in the coinage law and the minister of Finance had decided the letter of the law should be followed.

On the value side is a wreath of two orange branches with fruit, bound by a ribbon. This refers to the royal house of Orange. Nevertheless, this coin was not struck by the Dutch government. On 10th May 1940, the Nazi army invaded the country, quickly conquering it. The Nazis had hoped that the Dutch and their royal house would become an ally. However, the queen and her family left the country and took refuge in the UK and Canada. An estimated 80 million cents were struck by the occupation forces, more than in the period from 1930 to the invasion. This deprived the nazis of copper needed for their war industry, as few coins were exchanged for the war issues that succeeded this type.

While mintage of this type was stopped after 1941, similar coins dated 1942 were minted in the US for use in Surinam.

Peter

[chrisild]

In Dutch, money and coin amounts do not get a plural S.

Good thing you use the present tense. Until 1948 it was more complex.
1 cent - singular of course.
2½ cent - singular too, maybe because the "half" that follows the two was considered to be the decisive part?
5 cents, 10 cents, 25 cents - plural.
Since 1948 the unit has been "cent" consistently, singular and plural.

Christian

[aws22]

Thank you Peter and Christian for the valuable information.

Maythem