Silver 2 1/2 Gulden Pattern

This 1911 silver pattern for a 2.5 gulden coin was struck as a trial to experiment with a higher relief design, aiming to improve durability for colonial circulation.

That design featured the Dutch coat of arms on the reverse, encircled by the inscription "GOD ZIJ MET ONS," a nod to the nation's motto. The obverse probably showed Queen Wilhelmina's portrait, though records don't specify the exact die used. We know it was minted in Utrecht, but the exact number of strikes remains unknown—most patterns from that era were produced in small quantities, perhaps just a handful for evaluation.

The coin's silver content was standard for the time, around 0.720 fineness, recycled from earlier issues. It's a reminder that not every trial leads to success; this one didn't progress.

Patterns like this often sit in collections, gathering dust while enthusiasts ponder what might have been.