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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Euro, post: 1084496, member: 28879&quot;]I collect particular European (among which certain Dutch coins) coins and, when digging around on the site of the Royal Dutch Mint came across something that might be of interest to American collectors as well. Hope you like this post.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>First some background info. As you may or may not know, The Netherlands Antilles were part of the Kingdom of The Netherlands. The latter comprises Aruba, The Netherlands and The Netherlands Antilles. All independent countries within 1 kingdom. The islands are like 98% per cent independent (as in &quot;Holland only pays money into them, does their foreign policy, is responsible for their defense (othewise they would have had the honour of becoming Venezuelan citizens long ago)).</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The Netherlands Antilles, however, managed to accumulate a staggering national deficit and turned bankrupt. The state of their country must have depressed them so deeply that they became the first ever(?) country to simply abolish themselves: Holland agreed to take over their national deficit and to allow for the dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles in return for more power over justice and finance.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The country had a referendum and ...... it&#039;s gone now. Gone with the wind.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The Netherlands Antilles were dismantled and reshaped into two new autonomous countries (with less self government than Aruba), being St. Martin and Curacao. The remaining three island didn&#039;t even wish to become automous somehow and voted to become ... Dutch.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The islands Saba, St. Eustatius and Bonaire are now officially Dutch territory (part of Holland). So a day trip from Curacao to Bonaire means you were actually in Holland. Don&#039;t expect any tulips there though.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The three islands will be treated a bit differently though. For instance, they have adopted the US Dollar as their currency. This means that Holland is the only(?) country with two different official currencies: The Euro on the mainland, The US Dollar on their Carribean islands.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Weeeeeird....<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie6" alt=":cool:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> But it makes sense. Most of their income comes from American tourism. Better have a low Dollar than a strong Euro then. :thumb:</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>During this month (January) the NAF (Netherlands Antilles Guilder) has been replaced by the US Dollar on these three islands and....</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Now comes the part that might interest collectors. The Royal Dutch Mint will issue a coin for the three islands featuring their most typical birds and their hree mountans (The Quill, Mount Scenery and Brandaris). Yes, before Holland&#039;s highest &quot;mountain&quot; could boast of barely 300 meters, now they have 3 vulcanos. <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie6" alt=":cool:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The coin celebrates the introduction of the US Dollar to these islands this month. So this Dollar is basically a US Dollar. Of course it can&#039;t say so as it&#039;s not a US issue and no legal tender, neither in the US nor in Holland. However, according to the website below it will be accepted by the banks and shops on three islands (I guess the three concerned). So what is this then? An inofficial US dollar that is no legal tender and therefore bears neither country&#039;s name but can be used as a circulation coin to buy goods and services all over Holland as long as you&#039;re not in Europe? <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie5" alt=":confused:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /><img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie8" alt=":D" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>For a clear picture of the coin: <a href="http://www.knm.nl/Invoering-dollar-op-de-BES-eilanden-is-goed-verlopen/nl/news/97/?NieuwsGroepID=1&amp;NWSY=2011&amp;NWSM=1" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.knm.nl/Invoering-dollar-op-de-BES-eilanden-is-goed-verlopen/nl/news/97/?NieuwsGroepID=1&amp;NWSY=2011&amp;NWSM=1" rel="nofollow">http://www.knm.nl/Invoering-dollar-op-de-BES-eilanden-is-goed-verlopen/nl/news/97/?NieuwsGroepID=1&amp;NWSY=2011&amp;NWSM=1</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Some additional info (in Dutch) can be found here where it is said that the coin is gold coloured, has the same diameter as a US Dollar, has a mintage of 50.000 and can be purchased on the islands by the inhabitants for 1 US dollar per coin.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><a href="http://bonaire.web-log.nl/bonaire/2011/01/herdenkingsdollar-op-bonaire-statia-en-saba-.html" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://bonaire.web-log.nl/bonaire/2011/01/herdenkingsdollar-op-bonaire-statia-en-saba-.html" rel="nofollow">http://bonaire.web-log.nl/bonaire/2011/01/herdenkingsdollar-op-bonaire-statia-en-saba-.html</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I think this coin or medal or whatever is so awkward it&#039;s cool.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>And it might interest American collectors.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Never thought I will have to add a Dollar to my collection of Dutchies.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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