The U.S. Mint Goes to War
1942P Netherlands-Curaçao/Suriname, Cent

Obverse:

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Reverse:

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Coin Details

Origin/Country: CURACAO
Item Description: CENT 1942P KM-39a
Full Grade: NGC MS 65 RB
Owner: coin928

Owner Comments:

Curaçao/Suriname - 1942 P (Palm Privy) 1 Cent Bronze - (KM #39a) - Total Mintage: 2,500,000
Curaçao: 500,000
Suriname: 2,000,000

Obverse: Rampant Lion and Field from the shield of the coat of arms
Obverse Legend: KONINGRIJK DER NEDERLANDEN (Kingdom of the Netherlands), date below
Reverse: Denomination within a wreath of orange tree branches.
Edge: Reeded

This coin was minted by the Philadelphia Mint during World War II for circulation in the Dutch Colonies of Curaçao and Suriname. I find it particularly interesting that unlike all US cents, this one cent coin has a reeded edge.

The primary element on the obverse is the central elements of the shield from the Dutch coat of arms. 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 exceptionally attractive red brown example of this relatively common coin. If you follow the link to the price guide for this coin, you will see that NGC used this coin as the plate coin on that web page.

In recent years, it appears that Brass specimens have been discovered and have been given the number KM-39b by Krause and Mishler. I have yet to discover one myself though.

Date acquired: 6/26/2006 (raw coin)
Date graded: 9/18/2015 (self submitted to NGC)

Rev. 12/5/2018

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