Suriname's wartime cent exists because the Dutch colonial monetary system was thrown into crisis after Germany occupied the Netherlands in May 1940. With the Koninklijke Munt in Utrecht inaccessible, coinage for Dutch overseas territories had to be arranged elsewhere. These 1942 pieces were struck in Philadelphia under a wartime production agreement — one of several arrangements made for Dutch colonial issues during the occupation years.
Tombac was the available alloy. Nickel had been redirected entirely to the war effort.
Suriname's wartime cent exists because the Dutch colonial monetary system was thrown into crisis after Germany occupied the Netherlands in May 1940. With the Koninklijke Munt in Utrecht inaccessible, coinage for Dutch overseas territories had to be arranged elsewhere. These 1942 pieces were struck in Philadelphia under a wartime production agreement — one of several arrangements made for Dutch colonial issues during the occupation years.
Tombac was the available alloy. Nickel had been redirected entirely to the war effort.