1939 Netherlands 1 Gulden (Queen Wilhelmina) NGC MS60 Background: 1939 was a pivotal year on the eve of World War II. While the Netherlands attempted to maintain neutrality, the country was invaded by Germany the following year (1940). This coin represents the final period of domestic stability before the Dutch Royal Family went into exile. Hightlights: 1. This is the final year of the 1 Gulden series minted in the Netherlands before the Nazi occupation. Following the 1940 invasion, the Dutch "government-in-exile" eventually had coins minted in the United States (Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco) to be used after liberation. Owning a 1939 specimen means owning the last silver Gulden produced on home soil under a free Dutch administration before the war changed the nation's currency forever. 2. The 1939 issue features the fourth and final major portrait type of Queen Wilhelmina (the "Updo" or "Older Head" style by artist Johannes Cornelis Wienecke). As the longest-reigning Dutch monarch, Wilhelmina's coins trace her life from a young girl to a wartime leader. This 1939 portrait captures her image as the "Mother of the Resistance," making it a deeply symbolic piece for collectors of Royal iconography. 3. While many nations began debasing or removing silver from their minor currency in the late 1930s due to rearmament costs, the Netherlands maintained a high .720 silver fineness for the 1939 1 Gulden. This provides a satisfying "heft" and metallic resonance that later post-war issues or occupation zinc coins lack, making it a favorite for "stackers" who also appreciate numismatic history.