Owner Comments:
Curaçao - 1944D (Palm Privy) 2 1/2 Cents - KM #42 - Mintage: 1,000,000
Obverse: Rampant Lion and Field from the shield of the coat of arms
Obverse Legend: MUNT VAN CURAÇAO (Mint of Curaçao), date below
Reverse: Denomination within a wreath of orange tree branches.
Edge: Reeded
This coin was minted by the Denver Mint during World War II for circulation in the Dutch Colony of Curaçao. I find it particularly interesting that unlike small denomination US coins, this minor coin has a reeded edge.
The primary element on the obverse is the central shield from the Dutch coat of arms topped by the Dutch royal crown. The background (field) of the shield is azure which is a dark royal blue that is represented by horizontal lines in engraving. Also part of the background is gold billetty which are vertically oriented gold blocks, twice as long as they are wide, arranged in rows but not directly underneath each other. A hatched pattern of dots is used in engraving to represent the gold color of the billets. The lion is rampant (standing on his back legs), crowned with a coronet, and is also gold with a red tongue and red claws. In his sinister (left front) paw he is holding seven silver arrows bound together with a gold ribbon, representing the seven provinces of the Union of Utrecht. In his dexter (right front) paw he is brandishing a silver sword with a golden hilt representing the determination to defend their liberty.
This particular coin is an attractive dark red brown example of this relatively common date.
Date acquired: 4/26/2006 (raw coin)
Date graded: 9/18/2015 (self submitted to NGC)
Rev. 10/31/2015