705) Leeuwarden, European Capital of Culture - 2018: Commemorative coins issued by the Royal Dutch Mint celebrating the designation by issue of 10 Euro Gold coins, 5 Euro Silver coins and 5 Euro Silver plated coins in April 2018:

705) Leeuwarden, European Capital of Culture - 2018: Commemorative coins issued by the Royal Dutch Mint, celebrating the designation by issue of 10 Euro Gold coins, 5 Euro Silver coins and 5 Euro Silver plated coins in April 2018:

For more interesting posts on the Netherlands, please visit the following links:

1) The Stelling Van Amsterdam: (Defence Line of Amsterdam, Netherlands): "Dutch UNESCO Sites Series" coins: A Silver 5 Euro and Gold 10 Euro coins issued on 21.11.2017:

2) A Visit to Fort St. George Museum , Chennai (Part III): Indo-Dutch Coins

3) Leeuwarden: European Capital of Culture - 2018: Commemorative Gold (10 Euro), Silver (5 Euro) and Silver plated Copper coins (5 Euro) brought out by the Royal Dutch Mint in April 2018:

The European Capital of Culture is a city which is designated by the European Union (EU) for a period of one year during which it organises a series of cultural events with a strong pan - European dimension.

Preparing a European Capital of Culture is an opportunity for the city to generate considerable cultural, social and economic benefits and it can help foster urban regeneration, change the city's image and raise its visibility and profile on an international scale.

In 1985, Melina Mercouri, Greece's minister of cultural affairs and her French counter-part Jack Lang mooted the idea of designating an annual "Capital of Culture" to bring Europeans closer together by highlighting the richness and diversity of European cultures and raising awareness of their common history and values.

The Commission of the European Union manages the title and each year the Council of Ministers of the European Union formally designates European Capitals of Culture. So far, more than 40 cities have been designated "Capitals of Culture".

The City of Leeuwarden, Netherlands - designated as "Capital of Culture - 2018", along with Valletta, Malta:

The capital of the province of Friesland is about one and a half hours drive North of Amsterdam. Much of the region is below sea-level and is known for waterways lined with swaying reeds, traditional windmills, windswept beaches and marshes rich with bird-life. Walking around Leeuwarden, one comes across craft beer cafes, mixed with medieval churches.

Frieslanders are proud people, known for their 11 city, 124 mile ice-skating race, the "Elfstedentocht", held only when the weather is cold enough to freeze miles of canals. The last race was held in 1997. 

The local Fries language is very close to English.

Margaretha Geertruida "Margareet" Macleod (nee Zelle) -07.08.1876-15.10.1917:

The city's most famous resident was "Mata Hari" the famous Dutch World War I spy. She was a Dutch exotic dancer and courtesan. Her real name was Margaretha Geertruida Zelle whose stage name was "Mata Hari". She was put on trial by French Military courts and accused of spying for Germany and consequently causing the deaths of at least 50,000 soldiers. Although the French and British intelligence suspected her of spying for Germany, neither could produce definite evidence against her.

Based on circumstantial evidence alone, she was convicted by French military courts of being a spy for Germany during World War I and executed by a firing squad in France on 15.10.1917.

The Commemorative coins:

The first official Netherlands commemorative coin issued in 2018, is dedicated to the city of Leeuwarden, the designated "European Culture Capital" for 2018.

                 The Obverse and Reverse of the 10 Euro Gold Coin 

                           The Obverse of the 10 Euro Gold Coin

It shows the legally required head of King Willem-Alexander at the centre facing right. The peripheral inscriptions are - 'WILLEM ALEXANDER, KONING DER NEDERLANDEN" (meaning "Willem Alexander, King of Netherlands") and year of issue on the top periphery "2018".

The design on this face has a sense of centuries old Frisian craftsmanship techniques of wood-carving and mint craft, which have come to life through the use of modern digital and 3D printing techniques. The result is what combines both - a weathered seal and a contemporary object.

                          The Reverse of the 10 Euro Gold coin

It depicts some features symbolic of Friesland - the jewels of Mata Hari, the water, Frisian sailboats and horses, water lily leaves from the provincial flag and the horn of culture and festivities.

The specification of this coin are:

Metal Composition: Gold (Au); Fineness/Purity: .900; Weight: 6.72 grams; Coin Quality: Proof; Maximum  Mintage:1,000 pieces; Designer: Navid Nuur; Year of issue: 2018.

The Gold Coin is housed in a wooden case/box and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity (COA).

             The Obverse and Reverse of the 5 Euro Silver Coin

                            The Obverse of the 5 Euro Silver coin

The Obverse of the 5 Euro Silver coin shows the legally required head of King Willem-Alexander at the centre facing right. The centre left to bottom peripheral inscriptions are - "WILLEM-ALEXANDER, KONING DER NEDERLANDEN" meaning "Willem-Alexander, King of Netherlands") and year of issue "2018" on the top periphery.

The edge inscription reads - *GOD*ZIJ*MET*ONS - (this is a shortened text from the Latin proverb "Si Deus nobiscum quis contra nos" (meaning "If God is with us, who shall be against us?"). This biblical motto was used in the Eighty Years War and is used by the Dutch Republic on its coinage.

The design on this face has a sense of centuries old Frisian craftsmanship techniques of wood-carving and mint craft, which have come to life through the use of modern digital and 3D printing techniques. The result is what combines both - a weathered seal and a contemporary object.

                           The Reverse of the 5 Euro Silver coin

The Reverse of the Silver 5 Euro coin depicts some features symbolic of Friesland - the jewels of Mata Hari, the water, Frisian sail-boats and horses, water lily leaves from the provincial flag and the horn of culture and festivities.

The specifications of this coin are:

Denomination: 5 Euros; Metal Composition: Silver (Ag); Purity/Fineness: .925; Weight: 15.50 grams; Diameter/Size: 33.0 mm; Edge inscription: *GOD*ZIJ*MET*ONS; Coin Quality: Proof; Mintage: 5,000 pieces; Designer: Navid Nuur; Year: 2018.

The full colour jacket with background information on the design, specifications and the theme of the coin

The Obverse and Reverse of the Silver-plated Brilliant Uncirculated 5 Euro Copper coin

           The Obverse of the Silver plated 5 Euro copper coin

The Obverse of the 5 Euro Silver plated Copper coin shows the legally required head of King Willem-Alexander  at the centre facing right. The centre left to bottom peripheral inscriptions are - "WILLEM-ALEXANDER, KONING DER NEDERLANDEN" meaning "Willem-Alexander, King of Netherlands") and the year of issue "2018" on the top periphery. The edge inscription reads - *GOD*ZIJ*MET*ONS ( meaning "If God is with us, who shall be against us?").

The design on this face has a sense of centuries old Frisian craftsmanship technique of wood-carving and mint craft, which have come to life through the use of modern digital and 3D printing techniques. The result is what combines both - a weathered seal and a contemporary object. 

              The Reverse of the Silver plated 5 Euro Copper coin

The Reverse of the Silver plated 5 Euro Copper coin depicts some features symbolic of Friesland - the jewels of Mata Hari, the water, Frisian sail-boats and horses, water lily leaves, culture and festivities.

The specifications of this coin are:

Metal: Silver plated copper; Weight: 10.50 grams; Diameter: 29.0 mm; Coin Qiality: Brilliant Uncirculated (BU); Designer: Navid Nuur; Year: 2018.

The printed and descriptive coin card in which the Silver plated 5 Euro coin is placed