Numismatic

2025 Netherlands 1 oz Proof Silver Parrot Duit (w/ Box/COA)

This modern release is a brilliant silver recreation of the historic 1679 Parrot Duit. Struck in a proof finish from one troy ounce of 99.9 percent pure silver, this issue has an incredibly low mintage of just 200 pieces. It bears the official marks of the Royal Dutch Mint and serves to honor the 50th anniversary of independence for Suriname. The obverse features a detailed depiction of a parrot perched upon a leafy branch, a design that carries deep historical meaning. On the original 1679 copper coins, which measured roughly 20 millimeters in diameter, the number of leaves on the branch served as a visual indicator of the coin's denomination. These early pieces represented specific quantities of sugar, where a single leaf stood for one pound of sugar, corresponding to one stuiver (or five cents). Two leaves represented two pounds, and four leaves represented four pounds. Parrots were selected as the central motif for these earliest currencies of Suriname. The reverse of the coin showcases an elegant, ornamental tree, mirroring the decorative designs that sometimes graced the backs of the original copper pieces, which were otherwise left blank. This proof restrike beautifully bridges the gap between seventeenth-century trade history and modern minting artistry.