Dutch Guilder - Coins

Coins

In the 18th century, coins were issued by the various provinces. There were copper 1 duit, silver 1, 2, 6 and 10 stuivers, 1 and 3 guilder, ½ and 1 rijksdaalder and ½ and 1 ducaton. Gold 1 and 2 ducat trade coins were also minted. Between 1795 and 1806, the Batavian Republic issued coins in similar denominations to the earlier provincial issues. The Kingdom of Holland minted silver 10 stuiver, 1 florin and 1 guilder (equivalent), 50 stuivers and 2½ guilder (also equivalent) and 1 rijksdaalder, along with gold 10 and 20 guilder. Before decimalisation, the Kingdom of the Netherlands briefly issued some 1 rijksdaalder coins.

The gold 1 and 2 ducat and silver ducat (rijksdaalder) are still minted today as bullion coins.

In 1817, the first coins of the decimal currency were issued, the copper 1 cent and silver 3 guilder. The remaining denominations were introduced in 1818. These were copper ½ cent, silver 5, 10 and 25 cents, ½ and 1 guilder, and gold 10 guilder. In 1826, gold 5 guilder coins were introduced.

In 1840, the silver content of the coinage was reduced (see above) and this was marked by the replacement of the 3 guilder coin by a 2½ guilder piece. The gold coinage was completely suspended in 1853, five years after the suspension of the gold standard. By 1874, production of silver coins greater in value than 10 cents had ceased, to be only fully resumed in the 1890s. Gold 10 guilder coins were struck again from 1875. In 1877, bronze 2½ cent coins were introduced. In 1907, silver 5 cent coins were replaced by cupro-nickel pieces. In 1912, gold 5 guilder coins were reintroduced but the gold coinage was ended in 1933.

In 1941, following the German occupation, production of all earlier coin types ceased and zinc coins were introduced for 1, 2½, 5, 10 and 25 cents. Large quantities of pre-war type, silver 10 and 25 cents and 1 guilder coins were minted in the United States between 1943 and 1945 for use following liberation.

In 1948, all half cents were taken out of circulation, and new bronze 1 and 5 cents coins and nickel 10 and 25 cents coins were introduced. In 1949, 1 and 2½ guilders banknotes were introduced. Five years later, the silver 1 guilder coin was reintroduced, followed by the silver 2½ guilders coin in 1959. The silver content was replaced with nickel in 1967, although no 2½ guilders coins were minted in 1967 and 1968. The silver coins were demonetised in 1973.

In 1980, production of the one cent coin ceased—it was demonetised in 1980. Soon after, it was decided to replace the five guilders banknote with a coin of the same value. However, it wasn't until 1988 that a bronze-coated nickel 5 guilders coins was introduced. The five guilders banknote was legal tender until 1995.

At the time of withdrawal, the following denominations of coins were circulating:

• 5 cents - stuiver—the name survived, although the stuiver hadn't been an official subunit of the guilder since decimalisation in 1817;
• 10 cents - dubbeltje ("little double")—being small enough to fit into the center hole of a compact disc, it was the smallest coin in circulation. It was worth two stuivers, hence the name;
• 25 cents - kwartje ("little quarter")—the kwartje was smaller than the stuiver, though larger than the dubbeltje and the cent;
• 1 guilders - gulden, colloquially piek;
• 2½ guilders - rijksdaalder, colloquially riks or knaak;
• 5 guilders - vijfje ("fiver");

All the coins carried a profile image of the Queen on the obverse and a simple grid on the other side. The 1 guilder, 2½ gilder, and 5 guilder coins had 'God zij met ons' ('God be with us') inscribed on the edge.