1898 2 1/2 gulden proof

Marianne · 02-14-2006, 05:45 PM

I've ordered the 19th century Krause, but it won't arrive for two weeks. Meanwhile, through sheer fluke, I came across a 1978 catalog of "De Nederlandse Munten van 1795 Tot Heden" owned by my dad. In it, he circled all the coins he owned from this time period and his estimate of their grades.

For the 1898 Koningin Wilhelmina 2 1/2 gulden, he made a little circle past the FDC designation and wrote "proef." The book doesn't give proof mintage or price info (plus, the prices it does have are from 1978) so I wondered if one of you could please help me?

The coin looks exceptional to my untrained eye. It's in an album that consists of sleeves that pull out from the top of the page, and I'm afraid I'll rub the coin if I remove it. When I get more air-tites, I might just carefully cut this album apart rather than wrestle with the sleeves.

**GDJMSP** · 02-14-2006, 11:47 PM

I own the same book you mention Marianne, only mine is the 1998 edition. The mintage for that coin was 100,000. Value listed in the Netherlands book is 2,500 ( not sure what the currency was then ) for FDC. In Krause 2004 edition it is valued as $1,250 for BU and $3,000 for Proof. There is no mintage listed in either book for the Proofs.

Now there is quite a difference between FDC and Proof, not price wise so much but the method of manufacture. So I wonder if the coin really is a Proof. One of the grades used in Dutch is Pr. - but it stands for Prachtig, not Proof. So is it possible your father made a mistake and misinterpretted this abreviation ?

Proof examples certainly exist, and the coin may well be one. But given what I have explained above - I wonder. But if you can post a pic - we might just be able to tell if it's a Proof or not

Marianne · 02-15-2006, 02:43 AM

GD, you're a wonder.

Well, my dad did a fair amount of coin buying and selling, so it would be odd for him to confuse prachtig with proef. Could be, though. The coin has an almost transluscent blue quality to it... I'll get back to work with my camera practice and see what I can do.

Marianne · 02-16-2006, 02:08 AM

Here she is, I hope.
Unfortunately, the coin has some scratches that I'm thinking are from album rub. The spot by her chin is something on my scanner...

Aidan Work · 12-14-2006, 03:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GDJMSP

I own the same book you mention Marianne, only mine is the 1998 edition. The mintage for that coin was 100,000. Value listed in the Netherlands book is 2,500 ( not sure what the currency was then ) for FDC. In Krause 2004 edition it is valued as $1,250 for BU and $3,000 for Proof. There is no mintage listed in either book for the Proofs.

Now there is quite a difference between FDC and Proof, not price wise so much but the method of manufacture. So I wonder if the coin really is a Proof. One of the grades used in Dutch is Pr. - but it stands for Prachtig, not Proof. So is it possible your father made a mistake and misinterpretted this abreviation ?

Proof examples certainly exist, and the coin may well be one. But given what I have explained above - I wonder. But if you can post a pic - we might just be able to tell if it's a Proof or not

Doug,your 1998 Dutch coin catalogue has prices in Gulden & Cents,as the Euro hadn't even been struck yet,let alone issued.

Aidan.