Catalog
2 Duiten 'Papegaaitje' Uniface
| Issuer | Colonial Administration of Suriname |
|---|---|
| Year | 1679 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Log in to see details |
| Technique | Log in to see details |
| Orientation | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
| Reference(s) | Log in to see details |
| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Uniface issue; the reverse is entirely blank, exhibiting the rough, unworked surface characteristic of the hammered copper flan, with no devices, legends, or decorative elements present. The metal surface shows natural flow lines and irregularities resulting from the hammering process. This plain reverse is a defining feature of the 'Papegaaitje' uniface type. |
| Reverse script | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Edge | Log in to see details |
| Mint | Log in to see details |
| Mintage | 1679 |
| Additional information |
Suriname had been in English hands until 1667, when the Dutch traded it for New Amsterdam — what is now Manhattan — under the Treaty of Breda. The colonial administration that followed almost immediately faced a chronic shortage of small change, and these locally produced copper pieces were an emergency response to that problem. The "Papegaaitje" nickname, meaning "little parrot," reflects local usage rather than any official designation.
The uniface production method — struck on one face only — points to improvised minting conditions rather than a properly equipped facility.