Nederland en Architectuur 4 Euro Zilver Proof

I got the Dutch Architecture coin today in the mail from the Royal Scandinavian Mint. The total came to $45.90 with shipping. It is a Silver Proof 5 Euro.

I was attracted to this coin because I believed that the design might be truly a breakthrough in the use of digital technology and minting processes to put forth an outstanding design. However, now that I have the coin in hand, its a bit of a disappointment.

The coin is too small for the ambitions of this design. Smaller than a nornmal sized silver dollar of the Morgan or Peace size, it rolls in at a 33 millimeter diameter and at a weight of only 15.5g, a bit more than half an ounce, substantially less than an ASE. It has a very detailed design but the design is flat, even looking etched instead of minted.

Lets look at some photos of the coin itself:







Above is a set of 4 images, 2 of the reverse and the obverse.

The reverse is an image of books written by Dutch Architects arraigned in such a way as to form a map of Netherlands in the center and the birds representing regional capitals.






The Obverse is a picture of the Monarch, Queen Beatrix, created with lines and shadow from the names of maybe a hundred or more important Dutch Architects.

 

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Obverse Details

Looking at the Obverse image of the Queen Beatrix several good pictures are needed to appreciate the details of this design and how the aesthetics of the coin functions.

Here is a 5.2 megabyte image of the obverse which is absolutely worth taking the time to download and view.

http://www2.mrbrklyn.com/coins/1201208/dutch_arch_obv_2008_silver_1.png

Here is a detail of the center of the coin and one can see the names clearer than perhaps with your naked eye.



Here is a view of the top:



some of the bottom



and a complete view:


The use of the text inside of the imagery was all accomplished with Free Software and how the light hits the coin changes dramatically how the coin looks to the eye. In this regard, this coin is a unique work.

Ruben

 

Obverse Cont.

Some differences in angles and photographic qualities can help on understand the delicacy of this coin and its play with light and environment.

Here is a very sharp JPEG of the coin head on, with great detail of the names.



Generally I try not to use JPEG graphics because they remove visual information from the picture and ech time you manipulate it and resave it, you lose more detail. So generally I save files as PNGs which are larger, but still very compressed.

Here is a look under the glass:

http://www2.mrbrklyn.com/coins/1201208/dutch_arch_obv_2008_silver_4_magn.jpg


This is a must look of the coin on a different light and angle

http://www2.mrbrklyn.com/coins/1201208/dutch_arch_obv_2008_silver_6.png





http://www2.mrbrklyn.com/coins/1201208/dutch_arch_obv_2008_silver_7.jpg

 

Obverse Cont.

This is one of the sharpest images of the coin that I took, very crisp and detailed. A great archival recording of the work of art.

http://www2.mrbrklyn.com/coins/1201208/dutch_arch_obv_2008_silver_8.png


This visual gives a more composite look and shows how the image pulls together as a single whole.




http://www2.mrbrklyn.com/coins/1201208/dutch_arch_obv_2008_silver_8.jpg

http://www2.mrbrklyn.com/coins/1201208/dutch_arch_obv_2008_silver_9_400.png
http://www2.mrbrklyn.com/coins/1201208/dutch_arch_obv_2008_silver_9_400.jpg
http://www2.mrbrklyn.com/coins/1201208/dutch_arch_obv_2008_silver_9.jpg


A look into the magnifying glass




http://www2.mrbrklyn.com/coins/1201208/dutch_arch_obv_2008_silver_12_mag.jpg


A more silvery look at the obverse with great detail

http://www2.mrbrklyn.com/coins/1201208/dutch_arch_obv_2008_silver_13.png




In these last two you can compare JPEGS and PNGs back to back.

http://www2.mrbrklyn.com/coins/1201208/dutch_arch_obv_2008_silver_10_400.png

 

Reverse Face

The Reverse is also complex, but not on the scale of the obverse. Reading the titles of the books that rise up from the view is a challenge and worth looking over




This look at the coin shows as clear of a surface as in coins

http://www2.mrbrklyn.com/coins/1201208/dutch_arch_rev_2008_silver_1.png


Below is a 5.1 archival quality image:
http://www2.mrbrklyn.com/coins/1201208/dutch_arch_rev_2008_silver_2.png

here is a scaled down version showing the very crisp line of the coins design.


http://www2.mrbrklyn.com/coins/1201208/dutch_arch_rev_2008_silver_3.png
http://www2.mrbrklyn.com/coins/1201208/dutch_arch_rev_2008_silver_3_400.png


The forth, fifth, and sixthed books from the lower center to the left are very key spots on the coin to judge strike and wear

http://www2.mrbrklyn.com/coins/1201208/dutch_arch_rev_2008_silver_4.png



Here is a view through a loup:
http://www2.mrbrklyn.com/coins/1201208/dutch_arch_rev_2008_silver_5_mag.png


Upside Down - different light and details shown

 

Wow. I have that coin too, but have not seen it that way so far. Great photos, thanks!

Christian

 

I was hoping to create a post which would allow one to see this coin in new way, and to present its attributes accurately. I'm very happy you like this post!

Ruben

 

BTW - this is a good idea of what can be done for my contest

Ruben

 

exhibit

 

still like this post and coin

Ruben

 

I have bought this coin in UNC...$10 it was, which is like €7.5.

I could not find it in silver...even on the royal dutch mint website.

 

I got it from the Scandinavian Mint.

 

The nederlands isn't even Scandinavian....probably why I never thought to look there

 

So what, the "Royal Scandinavian Mint" is neither royal nor Scandinavian nor a mint. As for ordering directly from the Dutch Mint, that works fine* here - problem for people outside the European Union is that the KNM will mail to EU addresses only.

* not for this vijfje though - the €5 silver coin is sold out there

Christian

 

All the prices are in US dollars thank goodness....the pound is so rubbish against the euro at the moment.

£33 it would cost me to get it in silver proof, but I think my UNC one will serve as a good example of it for the moment.


Didn't australia mint a coin whose image changed when you moved the coin?

Which one was that?

 

Not sure about Australia. The Dutch mint did that with the "geboortemunt" in 2004: The frontal view shows the baby, Catharina Amalia. If you turn the piece to one side, you see the father (and next king) Prince Willem Alexander; on the other side you see the mother Princess Máxima.

Christian

 

Nah, this coin was the scene from a film.

and when you move the coin the scene in played out.


Doing research I have discovered such images are called 'lenticular' art.


In trying to find this coin again I have found a lot of coloured type coins...but this one wasnt coloured....twas a proper coin sorta thing.

 

Maybe it was this one?



Christian

 

I thinks it is...i knew it was a guy dancing.

good work.

 

Here is my BUC version in a blister pack.






For some reason I expected them to be bigger...£5 coin size.

Infact...it's not much bigger than a €2 coin.