Amsterdam - In 2019, the Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM), the Netherlands Aerospace Center (NLR) and GKN Fokker will celebrate their centenary. As a tribute to a hundred years of Dutch aviation, the Royal Dutch Mint produces the Aviation Five Euro Coin. This is a very limited commemorative coin, commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Finance. King Willem-Alexander has just performed the ceremonial First Strike of the golden commemorative coin with the historical press in the EYE Film Museum.
One hundred years of Dutch aviation
The celebration of a hundred years of aviation in the Netherlands is the ultimate moment to reflect on the important role that our country played in the development of civil aviation. With KLM as one of the world's oldest airlines, NLR as the international authority in the field of aerospace innovation and Fokker as the world-famous commercial aircraft manufacturer, the Netherlands left its mark on the aviation sector. Over the past hundred years, aviation has reduced physical distances and the sector has been revolutionized. Where flying started as a complex and often dangerous activity, nowadays it is an everyday, accessible reality.
The plane seems to be flying on the coins
The Dutch artist Marijke van Warmerdam designed three variants of the special commemorative coin: a silver five euro coin, a silver plated five euro coin and a gold ten euro coin.
On the front of each coin you will find a relief of dots, reminiscent of radar images. The dots form the portrait of the King. On the downside, in a similar relief, the map of the Netherlands can be recognized with a modern airplane in the sky. The shadow it casts on the earth is from a historic aircraft, which represents the change in technology. The distance between the aircraft and its shadow symbolizes the time elapsed.
Stephan Satijn, mint master of the Royal Dutch Mint: “If you place the series of three coins next to each other, it can be seen that the plane and its shadow move slightly. This way the plane seems to be flying on the coins. Watch the video here.
Availabilty
The Aviation Five Euro Coin will be put into circulation from today and is available at royaldutchmint.com/aviation. The coin has a nominal value of five euros and is a legal tender in the Netherlands.