Netherlands 1 Cent

The 1818 one cent coin was the first to bear the effigy of King William I, signaling the Kingdom of the Netherlands' fresh start after years of occupation and upheaval.

That initial design, struck in copper, set a precedent for over 180 years of production. Later issues shifted to bronze alloys as technology and economics demanded. The coin's diameter shrank over time, from 23 millimeters to a mere 16, reflecting efforts to cut costs.

We don't know exact mintage numbers for many early years; records from the Utrecht mint were spotty even then. By the 20th century, it became a fixture in pockets, though its value dwindled with inflation.

Some collectors fixate on the 1941 version, minted under occupation, but that's mostly myth. It was just a coin, doing its job until the euro phased it out in 2001.

Those later ones often turned up green from wear, like an old soldier's uniform.