Owner Comments:
Curaçao - 1944D (Palm Tree privy mark) - 2-1/2 Gulden (KM# 46) - Mintage: 200,000 (140,000)
(60,000 coins melted down after minting)
Obverse: Head of Queen of the Netherlands Wilhelmina I facing left
Obverse Legend: WILHELMINA KONINGIN DER NEDERLANDEN (Wilhelmina, Queen of the Netherlands)
Reverse: Crowned Shield from the coat of arms dividing the denomination
Reverse Legend: MUNT VAN CURAÇAO (Mint of Curaçao), date below
Edge Lettering: GOD * ZIJ * MET * ONS * (God be with us)
This coin was minted in Denver for circulation in the Dutch Colony of Curaçao during World War II. It is interesting to note that the O in CURAÇAO is actually tilted.
The portrait of Queen Wilhelmina used on the Dutch coinage changed as the Queen aged. At the time these coins were struck, the Queen was 64 years old and was living in exile in England. The third style of her left facing portrait which dominates the obverse of this coin, was first used in 1921 when she was just 41 years old.
The primary element on the reverse 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 is a beautiful, bright white coin with minimal scuffs and contact marks.
Date acquired: 12/7/2014 (already graded by NGC)
Rev. 12/5/2018