Coin Collecting at the Safir House
Dutch Architecture Coin
Sat Apr 27 05:45:50 2024
Last year the Netherlands Mint announced that it was going to produce a Commerative Coin honoring Dutch Architecture. What excited me about the coin was that it was entirely produced with Free Software.

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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.

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://www.mrbrklyn.com/coins/12012...8_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.


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://www.mrbrklyn.com/coins/12012...ver_4_magn.jpg



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

http://www.mrbrklyn.com/coins/12012...8_silver_6.png



http://www.mrbrklyn.com/coins/12012...8_silver_7.jpg



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://www.mrbrklyn.com/coins/12012...8_silver_8.png


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




http://www.mrbrklyn.com/coins/12012...8_silver_8.jpg

http://www.mrbrklyn.com/coins/12012...lver_9_400.png
http://www.mrbrklyn.com/coins/12012...lver_9_400.jpg
http://www.mrbrklyn.com/coins/12012...8_silver_9.jpg


A look into the magnifying glass



http://www.mrbrklyn.com/coins/12012...ver_12_mag.jpg


A more silvery look at the obverse with great detail

http://www.mrbrklyn.com/coins/12012..._silver_13.png




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

http://www.mrbrklyn.com/coins/12012...ver_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://www.mrbrklyn.com/coins/12012...8_silver_1.png


Below is a 5.1 archival quality image:
http://www.mrbrklyn.com/coins/12012...8_silver_2.png

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


http://www.mrbrklyn.com/coins/12012...8_silver_3.png
http://www.mrbrklyn.com/coins/12012...lver_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://www.mrbrklyn.com/coins/12012...8_silver_4.png



Here is a view through a loup:
http://www.mrbrklyn.com/coins/12012...lver_5_mag.png

Upside Down - different light and details shown




The Safir Family Internet Coin Library. Nearly all the coins here have been stolen. If you have any information on the theft, please contact us at mrbrklyn@panix.com

Click to see these examples show below including photography: note to lawyer: most of the good stuff is gone
Section I:
US Coints
Large Cent Coppers
Flying Eagle Cents
Lincoln Cents and Wheat Backs
Buffalo Nickels
Jefferson Nickels
Jefferson Silver War Nickels
Bust Half Dimes
Mercury (Liberrty Head) Dimes
Roosevelt Dime
Barber Quarter Dollars
Standing Libery Quarter
Washington and Washington State Quarters
Cap Bust Half Dollars
1813 o.108 AU58 Cap Bust Half Providence Powell.
1818 MS63 Cap Bust Half
1833 MS63 Cap Bust Half
Seated Half Dollars
Barber Half Dollars
Walking Liberty Half Dollars
Franklin Half Dollars
Kennedy Half Dollars
Morgan Silver Dollars
Peace Silver Dollars
Eisenhower Clad and Silver Dollars
Sacawagea Golden Dollars
Modern Silver and Clad Proof Sets
Modern American Silver Eagle uncirculated mint coins and proofs
Modern Silver and Clad 2008 Commorative Bald Eagle Series
Gold Coins - Not too many
Circulated US Silver Coins prior to 1964

Go To Section II:
Modern and Ancient Foreign Coins from Outside The United States

Go To Section III:
Mandy's 25th Anniversary World Wildlife Fund Silver Coins

Unsorted Extra stuff:
Bust US Coinage
From the coin Show at Melville Long Island
Article on Numismatics and Lobbying

The Safir Family Internet Coin Library: Foriegn Coins.

Several mints from around the world make exciting coin designs in circulating alloys, silver and gold. Among my favorites are the Perth Mint in Austrailia which produces a variety of coins for nations mostly through out the Pacific Rim. The Neatherlands has also produced some interesting designs, and several private US based mints have produced foreign currency on contract, include the Franklin Mint which has produced many Israeli Coins.
Our interest in foreign coins has been nominal but rapidly growing as it seems that US designs are so stuck in the mud. Also, foreign mints are creating bold new designs with color and bimetal designs that are both eye catching and fun.

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