The Finance Ministry of the Netherlands have launched (25th October) two new coins which celebrate and highlight Amsterdam’s famous canal system. The Canal ring, with it’s more than one hundred kilometers of canals and including 90 islands and 1,500 bridges is one primary features of the city known world-wide.
The three main canals of Herengracht, Prinsengracht, and Keizersgracht were dug in the 17th century during the Dutch Golden Age and using the technology prevalent during the era. The many canals form concentric belts around the city, known as the Grachtengordel (Canal District). Much of the area is well known and admired for the quaint scenery and many small bridges built over the canals as well as the numerous 17th-century canal homes still standing. The area is considered historical and unique to world heritage that the canals of Amsterdam were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in August 2010. The City of Amsterdam celebrates its 400th year of the canal system in 2013 which is considered the successful outcome of careful city planning of the day. What has provided the life-blood to Amsterdam for many centuries has now become a tourism must-see and the backdrop for numerous festivities.
The two coins, which share the same design are the work of Dutch Artist Tine Melzer and are struck by the Royal Dutch Mint in Utrecht. Both include a front-facing cameo type portrait of HM Queen Beatrix on the obverse with a world map with the texture of fingerprints in the background as a matte layer on a mirror surface. The design is a symbol of the collective ownership of Dutch Heritage and a worldwide symbol of Dutch culture. The reverse also includes the other half of the world map as seen on the obverse, giving continuity to the design. The value (5 or Vijf EURO for the silver – 10 or Tien EURO for the gold) has been written out in words in order to feature the Dutch language. A rendition of the canal rings appear just below the value of the coin and the text “GRACHTENGORDEL AMSTERDAM” is seen below the rendition. As the coin is also in conjunction with featuring UNESCO sites, the organization’s logo can be seen to the upper left portion on the reverse. The designer’s initials of “TM” can be seen on the obverse and towards the upper half.
The 10 EURO coin is struck to proof quality in .900 fine gold with a weight of 6.7 grams and a diameter of 22.5 mm. A mintage of 2,500 pieces has been authorized. The silver proof coin is struck in .925 fine with a weight of 15.5 grams and a diameter of 33 mm. A mintage of 12,500 pieces has been authorized.
The Amsterdam Canal District 5 euro coin is the first issue in a new Dutch series of nine commemorative coins in total on the topic of Dutch Heritage beginning with this 2012 issue and will continue up to 2020. The first three themes are the Amsterdam Canals (2012), Rietveld Schröderhuis – Rietveld Schröder House for 2013 and the Kinderdijkse Molens – Mill in South Holland for 2014 which are also UNESCO world heritage sites. The first three coins in this new series will all be designed by Tine Melzer.
For further information on this and other coins offered by the Royal Dutch Mint, please visit their website at: http://www.knm.nl/Het-Grachtengordel-Vijfje-2012-Zilver-Proof/nl/product/2949/ The information is in Dutch – international orders fulfilled.
This is a third commemorative coins for Netherland? Does Amsterdam canal belt commemorative coins are better than Tulip commemorative or Sculpture commemorative coins? So which commemorative coins could be the best coin? Or can be a coin of the year?
It is the third commemorative coin for this year but… this coin is the first in a series which will last until 2020 and feature special sites in the Netherlands to highlight Dutch culture. It is also possible that before 2020 – there will be a new King portrayed on the continuing series as Queen Beatrix is expected to abdicate perhaps before her 80th birthday in 2018 – something to think about…
If you plan to collect all nine coins in the series, the first one is usually the most important.
M Alexander
A modern Dutch coin that I actually like….doesn’t happen that often. I better pick one up when I’m over there in a couple of months to see family….:-)
Michael, as for the abdication of the queen, it’s up to everyone’s best guess. There are no expectations any more, as here 25th anniversary as queen, 65, 70, 75 and 80th birthdays and other dates have been mentioned as possible dates for her to pass the thrown to her son (who will become King Willem IV, first King since 1890). I have a feeling it is going to be announced out of the blue at some point.
Oh yes, I know it’s a National “guess” as to the date when the Queen will abdicate – there are significant dates coming most importantly in 2013 when the Kingdom will celebrate 200 years of it’s foundation. Perhaps that will be the “right” time but as the Queen is widowed and her younger son is so incapacitated it may also be time for the Prince of Orange to assume responsibilities.
It has also been hinted to me during my interview in 2010 with the commercial director of the Royal Mint that perhaps the designs of Dutch coinage might return to a more traditional look with the accession of Willem IV… watch this space!
M Alexander
This Amsterdam Canal Belt Gold and Silver Commemorative could be sold out soon? Because Canals of Amsterdam is just as popular as Tulips.
I will ask the Royal Dutch Mint about the level of sales of these new coins, there is also a silver-plated €5 coin with the same design but smaller diameter which is sold by the Mint at a reduced rate but if you intend on collecting the larger proof edition, I would suggest ordering soon.
M Alexander
Does anyone know of anywhere you can buy these where they ship to the US?
The Royal Dutch Mint will ship to the US, if you encounter any problems, do let me know and I will enquire to their marketing office. Viewing the webshop pages in Google means you can have the information instantly translated as the Mint’s information is only offered in Dutch.
M Alexander
So I used google translate and in order to register you have to pick a country. The only options are european countries. Even when you choose ship to a different address it is still the same issue. Has any on else encountered this problem?
I will contact their marketing department today and see if I can clarify the shipment question, I’ll post my information here as soon as I receive it.
M Alexander
M Alexander thank you for all your help. I also contacted the Dutch mint and this was their response: Thank you for your message. Unfortunately the Royal Dutch Mint does not ship to countries beyond the European Union member states boundaries.
We faced too many (mostly customs related) problems in the past.
I hope that I informed you sufficiently.
Kind regards,
Mario Tumminaro
Customer Service
So my next question is are there any reputable online dealers who are able to get this coin?
16th November
Hello JK,
I am still investigating this, I think we have an advantage here with several European Mints as they service the whole of the EU or Europe without the customs difficulties much easier than outside Europe.
If you cannot find the coin from a reputable source, my office can most likely order it on your behalf and dispatch to the US as a single item.
M Alexander
Hey M Alexander, I have searched the net and have not been able to find a dealer for this coin. How would I be able to go about getting this coin through you?