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2 Duiten 'Papegaaitje' Uniface

Issuer Colonial Administration of Suriname
Year 1679
Type Standard circulation coin
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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.
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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.