1928 Netherlands Olympic Commemorative 5 Gulden

The 1928 Netherlands Olympic commemorative coin was the first Dutch issue to depict a nude athlete, a bold nod to ancient Greek ideals that raised a few eyebrows at the time.

That athlete, shown in mid-stride on the reverse, symbolized the IX Olympiad in Amsterdam. The obverse carried the Dutch coat of arms, keeping things official and unadorned. Struck in silver and gold at the Utrecht mint, it used .720 fine silver for the common version, though exact gold production figures remain murky—records from that era aren't always reliable.

Design-wise, the coin's creator, Johannes van den Hoecke, drew from classical motifs, blending them with modern engraving techniques. It's a straightforward piece, free of the overblown legends that collectors sometimes invent.

No one knows for sure how many ended up in circulation; some were likely melted down during economic troubles. As for myths, I've heard tales of cursed coins from the games, but that's just nonsense—coins don't hold grudges.