Netherlands Five Cent

The Dutch five-cent coin, introduced in 1818, was still being minted under Nazi occupation in 1941, bearing Queen Wilhelmina's defiant profile.

That design choice spoke volumes about resistance, even on something as mundane as pocket change. Over the years, the coin shifted from copper alloys to nickel in 1901, reflecting advances in metallurgy that made it more durable for daily wear. Early versions weighed about 1.5 grams; later ones, less.

We don't know the exact mintage for every year, as records from the 19th century are spotty. What we do have shows production peaked in the 1950s, with millions struck annually.

As for myths, no, it wasn't cursed or hidden in treasure chests. It was just money. Collectors might quip it's the coin that outlasted empires but not inflation.