Numismatic

2025 Netherlands 2 oz Proof Gold Parrot Duit (w/ Box/COA)

This modern release is a heavy gold reimagining of a historic 1679 copper coin known as the Parrot Duit. Struck in proof quality from two troy ounces of 0.9999 fine gold, this issue marks the fifty-year milestone of Suriname's independence. The production of this special edition is extremely limited, with a total mintage of only 15 pieces. The obverse of the coin depicts a parrot perched upon a leafy branch, a direct nod to the original copper pieces that measured about 20 millimeters across. In Suriname's early monetary history, these birds represented values tied to sugar, where a single pound of sugar was valued at one stuiver (equivalent to five cents). The number of leaves on the branch indicated the coin's denomination, with one, two, or four leaves corresponding to the respective amount of sugar. On this modern gold version, the reverse displays a highly decorative, ornamental tree, contrasting with the often blank reverses of the original seventeenth-century copper issues. Guaranteed by the Royal Dutch Mint, the coin carries official mint marks alongside its intricate historical designs. It serves as a fascinating bridge between early colonial trade mediums and modern high-purity gold minting.