Catalog
5 Gulden Silver Voucher
| Issuer | Ministry of Finance, Netherlands |
|---|---|
| Year | 1914 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Gulden (decimalized, 1817-2001) |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Size | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Log in to see details |
| Printer | Log in to see details |
| Designer(s) | 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 | Green on light-green guilloche underprint with an intricate floral lattice pattern covering the entire field. The large numeral '5' in green is printed at centre, overlaid on the typeset text body, with the title 'ZILVERBON' and denomination 'Groot VIJF GULDEN' set in bold letterpress above. Two manuscript signatures appear in the lower portion beneath the printed designations of the Agent of the Ministry of Finance and the Minister of Finance, with the issue date '7 Augustus 1914' set to the right. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Uniface note; the reverse is completely unprinted, presenting plain off-white paper with no design, lettering, or security elements. |
| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Signature(s) | Log in to see details |
| Protection type | Log in to see details |
| Protection description | Log in to see details |
| Variants | Log in to see details |
| Comments |
The Dutch government introduced these silver vouchers in August 1914 as an emergency measure when the outbreak of war caused an immediate hoarding crisis — silver coin vanished from circulation within days. The Ministry of Finance authorized this paper substitute to fill the gap left by disappearing specie, backed by silver reserves but issued in lieu of coin rather than through De Nederlandsche Bank's normal note channels, which is why it carries a Finance Ministry imprimatur rather than a central bank one.
The print run of over twelve million was substantial for such a compact emergency instrument, reflecting how severe the coin shortage became in those first weeks of the war.