2656) Willemstad, (Dutch Caribbean Island of Curacao), Netherlands: "Dutch World Heritage Coin Series": Tenth Coin in the Series of €10 (Gold) and €5 (Silver) Collector Coins minted by the Royal Dutch Mint (RDM) feature the historic City: Date/Year of Coins issue: 02.02.2023:
Other Posts on Willemstad on this Blog:
The Header/Banner showcases the Obverse and Reverse of the Gold and Silver coins against a background representation of colourful houses in Willemstad
The tenth coin in the Coin Series titled - "Dutch World Heritage Coin Series" focusses on the historic city of Willemstad, formerly the capital of the Netherlands Antilles until its dissolution in 2010.
It is presently the capital and seat of government of the Caribbean Island of Curacao, which is a constituent part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Anyone who thinks of what Willemstad in Curacao might be or who has had the pleasure of visiting, immediately imagines the colourful wooden buildings located at St. Anna Bay.
Can you imagine that a small island of 444.00 sq. kilometres made it to the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage list, where only a few other Caribbean islands are featured? Curacao has more than 860 historical buildings and archeological sites.
These monuments hold a lot of history, not only examples of European colonialism but also African traditions that withheld the test of time and are now still embedded in the culture of Curaçao.
On 04.12.2022, Curacao will be celebrating 25 years on the World Heritage list, when Willemstad was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site 25 years ago.
What does this mean? That Curaçao, has on its territory a site of exceptional quality, that has to be conserved for the good and overall knowledge of humanity.
Willemstad consists of 4 districts, Punda, Pietermaai, Scharloo, and Otrobanda, each section with its own stories.
This mix of different cultures and influences ensured that several of the city’s districts were listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1997.
More about Willemstad:
Excerpted from a book titled "TREASURES OF THE WORLD" (A COMPLETE GUIDE ON UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES) in my personal library:
"The people of the Netherlands established a trading settlement at a fine harbour on the Caribbean Island of Curacao in 1634.
The town developed continuously over the following centuries. The modern town consists of several historic districts whose architecture reflects not only European urban-planning concepts, but also styles from the Netherlands and from the Spanish and Portuguese colonial towns which Willemstad engaged in trade with.
Willemstad stands out for the diversity of its four historic districts, separated by a natural harbour. Each has its own unique urban morphology, while sharing a distinctive "tropicalised" Dutch architecture".
Willemstad is indeed known for its colourful architecture, which has a very Dutch influence, but getting to know and explore the city a little better, one comes to discover the Spanish and Portuguese influences from earlier centuries gone by.
The long history of Curacao began with a sighting by Spanish conquistadors of the island before 1500.
However, it was not until 1527 that they formally settled the island and claimed it in the name of the Spanish King.
In 1634, a trading post on St. Anna Bay known as Punda was captured by the Dutch West India Company — WIC and named Willemstad, meaning “William town,” after the Dutch Prince Willem II van Oranje (1626–1650).
While Curacao remained in Dutch hands for years, for a time, it also came under English administration from 1800 to 1803 and again from 1807 to 1815.
By 1821, the island of Curacao received its first government bank authorising the release of banknotes, promissory notes, and coins minted especially for the territory’s use.
As part of integrating the economy of Curacao and that of the mainland kingdom, a law was passed in 1826 establishing the legal status of Dutch coins on the island.
Willemstad became a great hub for trade between the Americas and Europe after the Dutch declared the harbour an open port in 1675.
Willemstad was known to be a haven of trade for every country or individual to buy and sell products, so much so that the city saw rapid growth in population and construction of structures.
At the start of the 20th century, and with the advent of steam navigation, Curaçao’s harbour developed into a coal hub.
After the arrival of the Shell Refinery in 1915, a new era started for Willemstad.
At the outbreak of the Second World War, a separate series of coins produced by the United States mints in Philadelphia and Denver was introduced in Curacao in 1942.
With the establishment of the autonomous Netherlands Antilles, Willemstad was affirmed as the capital and seat of government, which continued until the dissolution of the entity in 2010.
Thereafter, Willemstad became the capital of the separate state of Curacao within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The Gold and Silver Coins:
The Gold and Silver coins have been minted by the Royal Dutch Mint (RDM) at their facilities in Houten on behalf of the Dutch Ministry of Finance.
The Reverses of the 10 Euro (Gold) and 5 Euro (Silver) Coins depicts a city view with all four districts of Willemstad that are part of the UNESCO World Heritage sites - Punda, Otrobanda, Scharloo, and Pietermaai.
Several well-known landmarks and structures are also included, such as the Handelskade quay, the Mikvé Israël-Emanuel synagogue, and Fort Amsterdam in Punda, which borders the two districts of Pietermaai.
On the upper periphery is the text "WERELDERFGOED" (“World Heritage”), and further along the edge is the additional text "WILLEMSTAD".
To the left edge is the coins’ denomination "10 EURO" (Gold) or "5 EURO" (Silver).
The Obverses of the 10 Euro (Gold) and 5 Euro (Silver) Coins includes a stylised image of King Willem-Alexander with a depiction of the Queen Juliana Bridge in Willemstad behind the king’s effigy.
The four stars shown above, along with the year of issue "2023", represent the four constituent nations which form the Kingdom of the Netherlands - The Netherlands, Curacao, Aruba, and St. Maarten.
Below the effigy is the legend "WILLEM-ALEXANDER KONING DER NEDERLANDEN" (meaning - "Willem-Alexander - King of The Netherlands").
The specifications of the four variants are:
Silver Variants:
i) Silver plated 5 Euros Coin Variant:
Country: The Netherlands; Year of Coin issue: 2023; Denomination: €5 (Euro); Weight: 10.50 grams; Diameter/Size: 29.00 mm; Metal Composition: Silver-plated; Mint: Royal Dutch Mint (RDM); Coin Quality: Uncirculated (U); Designer: Cleo Maxime de Brabander.
ii) Silver plated 5 Euros Coin Variant:
Country: The Netherlands; Year of Coin issue: 2023; Denomination: €5 (Euro); Weight: 10.50 grams; Diameter/Size: 29.00 mm; Metal Composition: Silver-plated; Mint: Royal Dutch Mint (RDM); Coin Quality: Brilliant Uncirculated (U); Mintage: 12,500 pieces; Designer: Cleo Maxime de Brabander.
iii) Silver plated 5 Euros Coin Variant:
Country: The Netherlands; Year of Coin issue: 2023; Denomination: €5 (Euro); Weight: 15.50 grams; Diameter/Size: 33.00 mm; Metal Composition: .925 Fineness Silver (Ag); Mint: Royal Dutch Mint (RDM); Coin Quality: Proof (P); Mintage: 4,000 pieces; Designer: Cleo Maxime de Brabander.
iv) 10 Euros Gold Coin Variant:
Country: The Netherlands; Year of Coin issue: 2023; Denomination: €10 (Euro); Weight: 06.72 grams; Diameter/Size: 22.50 mm; Metal Composition: .900 Fineness Gold (Au); Mint: Royal Dutch Mint (RDM); Coin Quality: Proof (P); Mintage: 800 pieces; Designer: Cleo Maxime de Brabander.
Remarks:
- Both the Uncirculated and Brilliant Uncirculated €5 Silver Coins are sealed in a coin-card format.
- The silver Proof coin is presented in a colourful folder and includes images of the colourful buildings in Willemstad’s port and specifications of the coin.
- The €10 gold Proof-quality coin is encapsulated and presented in a custom wood-branded Royal Dutch Mint case, along with a Certificate of Authenticity (COA).
Posts on SEPAC issues on this blog:
Posts on Finland on this Blog:
Posts on Sweden:
Dutch Castles Coin Series:
Links:
The undernoted two links will take you to our blog "Footloose" for two interesting posts written by me on the Dutch presence in Sadras in the 17th Century AD:
5) City of Bruges (or Brugge), Belgium: 20 Years as UNENCO World Heritage Site: A 20 Euro Silver Proof Coin issued by the Royakl Dutch Mint under licencing of the Royal Belgian Mint, on behalf of the National Bank of Belgium: Coin issue date: 26.02.2020
6) 100 Years of Nature & Environment Protection, Luxembourg: Commemorating the Centenary Anniversary of the "Letzebuerger Natur a Vulleschutsliga a.s.b.l. (Luxembourg Nature and Bird Protection Society):A 0.80 Euro Stamp issued by Luxembourg Postes (Post): Date of stamp issue: 10.03.2020
7) Celebrating 25 Years of listing on UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Luxembourg: A Commemorative Stamp of 0.80 Euro issued by Luxembourg Postes (Post): Stamp issue date: 10.03.2020
15) "Franking Labels" from Greenland: Franking Labels issued by POST Greenland Filatelia since 2009 onwards: A brief analysis
16) Ancient Postal Routes - the Postal Boat Race - between Aland and Sweden", Aland, Finland: A EUROPA Postage Stamp of 2.00 Euro issued by Aland Post: Date of Stamp issue: 08.05.2020
For interesting posts from the Caribbean Netherlands on this blog:
For other interesting posts on issues from the Royal Dutch Mint, Netherlands and PostNL, please visit the following links:
9) "De Haar Castle", Utrecht, Netherlands: The first Coin to be released in the "Dutch Castles" Coin Series: A silver Ducat Trade Coin with a history spanning over 350 years, minted by the Royal Dutch Mint: Date/Year of Delivery: 04/2020
10) First Atlases, Netherlands: Commemorating 450 Years of the first Atlas (1570-2020) & others: A Stamp Sheet of six stamps depicting the Atlases which were compiled in the Netherlands in the 16th & 17th Centuries AD: Stamp Set issued by POstNL: Date of Stamp Set issue: 23.03.2020
12) 75th Anniversary of the United Nations Organisation (UNO), The Netherlands: A Coin-card set of three denominations of 0.50 Euros, 0.20 Euros and 0.05 Euros minted by the Royal Dutch Mint to celebrate the milestone: Year of Coin-card issue: 2020
Links to Posts on Aruba on this blog:
Links to Posts on Curacao on this Blog:
18) Sea Motifs, Bahamas: Gold Bullion Coins in the denominations of 100 Dollars (depicting a Blue Marlin) and 250 Dollars (depicting a Conch Shell): Coins issue date: 03.12.2019
19) A new Generation $100 Polymer Banknote, Trinidad and Tobago with enhanced security features to "raise the bar" for counterfeiters & unscrupulous elements: Banknote circulation date: 09.12.2019:
20) Festival di Tumba (Carnival of Curacao), Curacao: "50th Edition of the Curacao Carnival/Festival" held from 27-31.01.2020: A set of six Commemorative Postage Stamps brought out by Cpost (Curacao Post) on 20.02.2020
21) New Polymer Banknotes, Trinidad and Tobago: The entire series will consist of $100, $50, $20, $10, $5 and $1 denominations: $100 has already been issued on 09.12.2019
23) "Caribbean Sea-Horse", Barbados: $10 (Ten Dollars) 1.0 Oz. Gold Bullion Coins & $1 (One Dollar) 1.0 Oz. Silver Bullion Coins minted by the Scottsdale Mint; Year of issue: 2020
24) Cayman Islands, A British Overseas Territory (BOT): A set of identically numbered Banknotes of the presently circulating Banknotes from the "D" Series of Banknotes
Links to some other interesting posts from South American countries & Mexico:
26) A new 100 Boliviano Banknote from Bolivia: issued by the "Banco Centrale de Bolivia" (Central Bank of Bolivia) on 15.01.2019 under its new 2018 Banknote Series
27) Central Bank of Uruguay ("Banco Centrale del Uruguay"): 50th Anniversary (Golden Jubilee) - 1967-2017 - celebrated with the issue of a 50 Peso Commemorative Banknote on 14.09.2018
Links to Posts on Curacao on this Blog:
Rajan Trikha has commented:
ReplyDelete"Interesting post 👍"
Thank you so much, Trikha sahab.
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