Commemorative coins - San Marino 3

The set of Zodiac coins of San Marino, coninued in 2020 with 3 additional coins: Libra, Scorpio and Saggitarius. Each of the 2020 coins has a mintage of 16000 brass pieces

The first coin dated 2020, is the Libra-coin (It: bilancia).

2020 Libra - coin  RSM

The second coin, is the Scorpio-coin (It: scoprione)

2020 Scorpio - coin RSM

The third and last coin for 2020 is the Sagittarius-coin (It: sagittario)

2020 Sagittarius - coin RSM

At the moment of wrinting this article, the 2020-coins, were still available on the website of the San Marino post, at the price of the face value. Each of the coins were delivered in a hard plastic holder.

The 2019 and 2018 coins were already sold out.

to be continued...

Commemorative coins - San Marino 2

In 2019, 4 coins were added to the set: Gemini, Cancer, Leo and Virgo.

Similar to the 2018 coins, is the obverse side, with the sun, all zodiac symbols and the country's name.

Gemini - coin 2019 RSM

 

Cancer - coin 2019 RSM

The Gemini-coin (It: gemelli) shows two mirrored toddlers reaching for the stars, while the Cancer-coin (It: cancro) depicts a crab.

Leo - coin 2019 RSM

The fifth coin is the Leo-sign (It: leone) and the sixth coin is the Virgo-sign (It: vergine)

Virgo - coin 2019 RSM

All coins have a face value of € 5, but sinde they are no longer available on the San Marino Post website, prices start to go up.

to be continued ....

Commemorative coins - San Marino 1

When paying in Europe with cash, the chance of spending or receiving a commemorative € 2 - coin, is not that uncommon. Till 2023, about 610 (!) different € 2 coins, other than the regular ones, are in use.

Also higher denominations are minted, but those coins are never seen in circulation.
First of all because they are printed in very limited numbers, or sold at a higher price than the nominal value.

One specific set of coins drew my attention. The set consists of 12 coins, issued over 4 years (in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021). 12 coins, that sounds familiar ... indeed these 12 coins are dedicated to the 12 western zodiac signs.

In 2018, the first two coins were issued.
Each coin has a face value of € 5 and the reverse side is common to all 12 coins.

reverse side of the coins

The outer circle, shows all 12 symbols of the western zodiac.
In the second circle, we see the issuing country : "Repubblica di San Marino", and the designer's name A. Masini. The third circle shows all lunar phases, around the sun in the centre of the coin.
Behind the sun we see a compass rose, and the sun is surrounded by 3 feathers, a symbol of the San Marino Republic.

On the front side of the first coin, the Aries (It: ariete) or Ram is shown

Aries issue 2018

The second coin of 2018 depicts the Taurus (It: toro) or Bull.

Taurus issue 2018

Each coin shows the year of issuing (here 2018), the face value of 5 euro, and the name of the constellation. Also the stars are depicted, and the related symbol is repeated 10 times on the perimeter of the coin.

The set of 2018 coins have a mintage of 15000 coins (brass).
They are sold out on the official website of the San Marino postal services.

to be continued...

Commemorative coins : The Netherlands 06

In 2009, the Netherlands celebrated their 400 year old trade relations with Japan.
Until today the Netherlands still have a friendly relationship with the land of the rising sun.
To commemorate this anniversary, the dutch coin issued a special € 5 coin.

The coin got the name 'Japan-five'. It has legal tender like all other € 5 coins, but remained mainly a collector's item.

coin card front

coin card back

The coin's design is best viewed with two coins next to eachother.
As I didn't take the coin out of the card, I had to look online to find a picture of both sides of the coin next to eachother.

both sides of the Japan-coin next to eachother

Now we see the full design. We see a fishermen's knot. As the dutch were (and are) famous sailors and fishermen. A knot is also a good symbol to show the connection between the two countries.


The coin was issued on a coin card
Amount : 343.859 pieces
Metal : silver 925/100
Size : Ø 29 mm
Weight : 11,9 g
Face value : € 5
Quality : circulation quality
Design : Esther de Vries en Richard Niessen

This coin is the 14th € 5 coin that was issued by the Royal Dutch Mint.

Commemorative coins : The Netherlands 05

Michiel Adriaenszoon de Ruyter  
Dutch pronunciation: [mɪɣɪɛl ɑdrɪanson də rœytər]
(24 March 1607 – 29 April 1676) is the most famous and one of the most skilled admirals in Dutch history. De Ruyter is most famous for his role in the Anglo-Dutch Wars of the 17th century. He fought the English and French and scored several major victories against them, the best known probably being the Raid on the Medway. The pious De Ruyter was very much loved by his sailors and soldiers; from them his most significant nickname derived: Bestevaêr (older Dutch for 'grandfather'.)
De Ruyter was born in 1607 in Flushing (Flessingha - Vlissingen) as the son of beer porter Adriaen Michielszoon and Aagje Jansdochter. Little is known about De Ruyter's early life, but he probably became a sailor at the age of 11. In 1622 he fought as a musketeer in the Dutch army under Maurice of Nassau against the Spaniards during the relief of Bergen-op-Zoom. That same year he rejoined the Dutch merchant fleet and steadily worked his way up. According to English sources he was active in Dublin between 1623 and 1631 as an agent for the Vlissingen-based merchant house of the Lampsins brothers. Although Dutch sources have no data about his whereabouts in those years, it is known that De Ruyter spoke Irish fluently.

In 2007, 400 years after De Ruyter was born, the Royal Dutch mint dedicated a € 5,- coin to its most famous Admiral.

The front side of the coin is rather sober. A picture of the Queen's head with two words: 'ONZE' (our) and 'HUN' (their). Left and right from the central circle.
It doesn't make much sence, until you turn the coin:

Here you see the face of Michiel De Ruyter, and on top there's the word: 'PAREL' (pearl) and at the bottom 'SCHRIK' (fear)...

If you read both sides, starting west, over north, east, down to south, you will read : "Onze Parel, Hun Schrik"
"Our Pearl, Their Fear"; a tribute to the Admiral who is considered as a dutch 'pearl' to the Dutch, and as fearful for his enemies.

The coin was issued on a coin card
Amount : 517.000 pieces
Metal : silver 925/100
Size : Ø 29 mm
Weight : 11,9 g
Face value : € 5
Quality : circulation quality
Design :Martijn Engelbregt

This coin is the 11th € 5 coin that was issued by the Royal Dutch Mint.

Commemorative coins : The Netherlands 04

Death and Taxes... only 2 things you're sure of in live.
Not that the Royal Dutch Mint got their inspiration from the movie 'Meet Joe Black', at least not that i know of.
But it's a fact that there 's a coin dedicated to "taxes", or at least to the National Taxservices in the Netherlands.

Speaking of an original way of generating income. Anyone who got money back from tax services, can spend it again on a coin dedicated to the same service.
Well, only the Dutch are so inventive i guess ;-)

On the front side of the coin, a picture of Queen Beatrix is shown. On top of here image, "2006" is written. Then, clockwise towards the centre of the coin, the years are printed, one by one, going back to 1806.
This to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the tax institute.

Back in the 18th century, there was no organised taxsystem in the Netherlands. Taxes were imposed on elementary food products. Since no one could do without, the gouvernment was sure to have enough income.
In 1806 for the first time, a system of general taxes was imposed for all Dutch.
Belgium, which was joined with the Netherlands from 1815 to 1830 shortly was part of this system.

The back side of the coin, shows another - old - coin.
It's a 1 florin coin, with the text "Koningrik Holland" (Kingdom of Holland)
Holland is actually only a part of the Netherlands (the two provinces of North- and South-Holland) with the cities Amsterdam, Den Haag, Rotterdam...

The coin was issued on a coin card
Amount : 359.189 pieces
Metal : silver 925/100
Size : Ø 29 mm
Weight : 11,9 g
Face value : € 5
Quality : circulation quality
Design : Hennie Bouwe

This coin is the 10th € 5 coin that was issued by the Royal Dutch Mint.

Commemorative coins : The Netherlands 03

The 9th coin in the set of Dutch € 5 coins, is the "Australian Five", a commemorative coin (only valid in the Netherlands), dedicated to the 400 years of friendship between the Netherlands and Australia.

On the card, two girls are shown, holding a plastic globe. Towards the viewers, Australia is shown.
On the coin, Australia is shown as well, in the middle of the coin. The eastern part of Asia is omitted on the coin. Above Australia, " 5 € " is written.

The back of the coin is the same design. But in stead of Australia, the head of Queen Beatrix is shown.
The circulation coin was emitted 500.000 times.
The silver Proof version, only 22.500 times and the golden € 10 coin, was only emitted 3.500 times.

The coin was issued on a coin card
Amount : 500.000 pieces
Metal : silver 925/100
Size : Ø 29 mm
Weight : 11,9 g
Face value : € 5
Quality : circulation quality
Design : Irma Boom

This coin is the 9th € 5 coin that was issued by the Royal Dutch Mint.

Commemorative coins : The Netherlands 02

July 2006, the Dutch celebrate the birth of one of their most famous painters, Rembrandt van Rijn.
Rembrandt was born 400 years earlier, in 1606.
Until now, the Rembrandt museum in Amsterdam is one of the highlights of the capital of the Netherlands.

How can Rembrandt better be honoured then by a silver € 5 coin.
The coin, only legal tender in the Netherlands will not be found in many wallets.
It's a wonderful silver commemorative coin, that was available in the Netherlands shortly and dissapeared in collections of coin collectors but also of many Rembrandt admirors.

On the front of the coin, a self-portrait is depicted, as well as the name "Rembrandt van Rijn"
and "1606-2006".

On the back side, you'll find a picture of Queen Beatrix, and the dutch text : "Beatrix koningin der Nederlanden" (Beatrix, queen of the Netherlands).

The coin was issued on a coin card
Amount : 651.000 pieces
Metal : silver 925/100
Size : Ø 29 mm
Weight : 11,9 g
Face value : € 5
Quality : circulation quality
Design : Berend Strik

The coin was also made in Proof-quality, both in silver and gold.
Face value is € 5 (silver) and € 10 gold - but prices of course depend on market values of silver and gold.

This coin is the 8th € 5 coin that was issued by the Royal Dutch Mint.

Commemorative coins : The Netherlands 01

On May 5, 1945, the Netherlands were liberated, at least partly. It was on August 15, after the capitulation of Japan, when also the former colony of the Dutch-Indies were liberated.
This date was also the end of World War II for the low countries. Now, the dutch live in peace for over 60 years. To celebrate this, and of course to commemorate the end of the second World War, the Royal Dutch Mint, emitted on behalf of the dutch Ministery of Finances, a special € 5 coin. "The Peace 'Five'"

The coin is legal tender in the Netherlands, but of course it's rarely used.
It's only legal tender in the Netherlands, this means, it's not part of the general 'euro-collection' that can be used in all participating countries.

The coin was distributed in a card board holder (size of a credit card).
On the front, Queen Beatrix is depicted.

On the back side, you'll find lots of dots, a 5 and the words 'vrede' (peace) and 'jaar 2005' (year 2005)

The coin was issued on a coin card
Amount : 630.000 pieces
Metal : silver 925/100
Size : Ø 29 mm
Weight : 11,9 g
Face value : € 5
Quality : circulation quality
Design : Suzan Drummen

For those who are interested, the coin was also made in Proof-quality, both in silver and gold.
Face value is € 5 (silver) and € 10 gold - but prices of course depend on market values of silver and gold.

This coin is the 7th € 5 coin that was issued by the Royal Dutch Mint.