Netherlands East Indies 1939 cent
This specimen was lot 1202 in Steve Album Auction 54 (Santa Rosa, CA, January 2026), where it sold for $5,100. The catalog description[1] noted, "NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES: Wilhelmina, 1890-1948, AE cent, 1939, an exquisite and rare proof striking; this piece sits alone at the top of the PCGS population report (Top Pop), lovely red-orange reflective surfaces, a true gem for any NEI collection! PCGS graded PF65 RB." The type was struck at the Utrecht mint 1936-39 but the 1942 and 1945 issues were produced at American mints, the Netherlands being under German occupation. In 1949, the Dutch gave up their attempt to reconquer their colony and Indonesia obtained her independence. This example sold for 510 times the catalog value.
Recorded mintage: 81,400,000.
Specification: 4.8 g, bronze, 23 mm diameter, plain edge.
Catalog reference: KM-317 (unlisted in proof), Scholten-913b.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Peters, T., J. Scheper and J. Mevius, Muntalmanak 2018, 35e editie, Amsterdam: Nederlandse vereniging van munthandelaren, 2017.
- Passon, Tom, Catalogus van de Munten van de Nederlandse Gebieden Overzee, vanaf 1601 tot heden, Apeldoorn, Netherlands, 2022.
- Scholten, C., The Coins of the Dutch Overseas Territories, 1601-1948, Amsterdam: Jacques Schulman, 1953.
- [1]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Hanbing Feng, Auction 54, featuring selections from the Kenneth A. Bovenkamp Collection of Ottoman Coins, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2025.
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