Numismatic

1802 Netherlands East Indies Silver 1/16 Gulden BU

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In 1802, this diminutive silver coin was minted to facilitate daily commerce in the Netherlands East Indies. Weighing just 0.0194 troy ounces, the 1/16 Gulden served as a practical medium of exchange in a region that would eventually achieve recognized independence as Indonesia in 1949, following a four-year conflict. The design of this coin captures the maritime spirit of its era. On the reverse, a sailing ship glides above the 1802 date, symbolizing the vast ocean trade networks that connected Europe to Southeast Asia. The obverse features a crowned coat of arms flanked by the divided denomination, a classic representation of Dutch authority. Cataloged by numismatists as KM reference 78, this piece survives in remarkable Brilliant Uncirculated condition, offering a crisp look at early nineteenth-century colonial coinage.