The Adam Park Project

Item Information:

Catalogue Number: 126/02/004 & 126/02/001 Source: TAPP Archaeology Surveys Location: 126 Watten Estate Road Report No: Report No.5 Artifact Type: Coins and Tokens Production Date: 2010-03-10 00:00:00 Dimensions of Item: 31mm dia Copyright with The Adam Park Project

Other Description:

A pair of 1945 (P) 2½ cents Dutch East Indies Coins which had been made into brooches. These are a very common 1945 2½ Cents Netherlands East Indies made out of bronze weighing 12.5 gram with a diameter of 31mm. On the obverse side we have a smaller crowned Dutch weapon shield and on the reverse side Javanese and Malayan text. The edge of this coin is plain. Each coin has had clasps soldered to them. It would appear the designer chose the Dutch coat of arms to be displayed on the front of the brooch. Unusually both items were found at the base of some steps and appeared to have been buried together.

Historic Context:

Over 200 million coins of this type were minted Netherlands and Netherlands East Indies coins of the 1941-1945 period were struck at U.S. Mints and would bear the mint marks of either ‘P’ for Philadelphia, ‘D’ for Denver or ‘S’ for San Franciso. It may be relevant that both coins are dated ‘1945’ and because of that have been converted into tokens in order to commemorate the end of the war. Alternatively the coins may simply have been reused as play pieces for children’s dressing up.