Netherlands 1879 5 cents
This specimen was lot 4944 in Goldberg sale 74 (Los Angeles, June 2013), where it sold for $109.25 including buyer's fees. The catalog description[1] noted, "Netherlands. 5 Cents, 1879. William II. Choice example. PCGS graded MS-66." This type is listed for 1850-79 and 1887. Unlike other countries of the Latin Monetary Union which struck silver minors in 0.835 fine silver, Netherlands persisted with a 0.640 fine alloy, a holdover from the United Provinces days of stuivers and scheepjesschellings. The five cents are rather common compared to the ten cents and twenty-five cents (KM 81) even tho mintages were generally smaller.
Recorded mintage: 200,000.
Specification: 0.685 g, 0.640 fine silver, 12.5 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-91, Sch-675.
- Peters, T., J. Scheper and J. Mevius, Muntalmanak 2018, 35e editie, Amsterdam: Nederlandse vereniging van munthandelaren, 2017.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Goldberg, Ira, Larry Goldberg, John Lavender and Steven Harvey, Goldberg Sale 74: the pre-Long Beach Sale, featuring the Arden Collection, Los Angeles: Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, 2013.
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