10 gulden 1941
“2.05.42”
Market Prices
60 salesAbout This Note
This 10 gulden banknote from 1941 represents a significant example of Dutch currency during the German occupation period. The note displays moderate wear consistent with VF condition, featuring the characteristic pinkish-beige palette with intricate blue and red ornamental elements, a left-facing female portrait, and evidence of historical circulation including creases, fold marks, and age-related foxing. The collector annotation '2.05.42' suggests this note was acquired or documented shortly after its issue, potentially during wartime conditions.
Common. The 10 gulden 1941 (Pick 56b) was issued in substantial quantities during a period of continued economic activity under occupation. No evidence suggests limited print runs, early recall, or rarity in this denomination and date combination. Notes from this period are regularly encountered in the market and among collectors. VF condition examples are typical rather than exceptional.
Issued by Nederlandsche Bank in 1941, this note was produced during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands (1940-1945), a period when the Dutch monetary system continued under German oversight. The heraldic coat of arms visible on the reverse and the formal 'BETAALT AAN TOONDER' (payable to bearer) inscription reflect the note's role as official legal tender during this complex historical period. The printing by Joh. Enschedé en Zonen in Amsterdam demonstrates that Dutch security printing operations continued during the occupation.
The front features a refined classical design with a central ornamental cartouche containing the bank name and denomination. A portrait of a woman in left-facing profile occupies the right portion of the note, rendered in grayscale and green tones typical of period engraving. The left side displays elaborate fan-shaped decorative elements in red and blue, characteristic of Art Deco influence in 1940s Dutch banknote design. The reverse displays a larger oval cartouche containing the Dutch heraldic coat of arms with crown, surrounded by intricate engraved arabesques and fine line patterns. The denomination '10' appears in multiple corners. The overall aesthetic reflects formal, security-conscious design principles of the era, with the woman's portrait likely representing a classical or allegorical figure symbolizing the Dutch nation or prosperity.
Front Side: 'DE NEDERLANDSCHE BANK' (The Netherlands Bank); 'TEN GULDEN' (Ten Guilders); 'BETAALT AAN TOONDER' (Payable to Bearer); 'DE PRESIDENT' (The President); '10' (numerical denomination). Back Side: 'DE NEDERLANDSCHE BANK' (The Netherlands Bank); '10' (numerical denomination repeated in corners); 'WETBOEK VAN STRAFRECHT ART. 208' (Penal Code Article 208 - warning against counterfeiting); 'AMSTERDAM' (place of issue); 'JOH. ENSCHEDÉ EN ZONEN IMP.' (Joh. Enschedé and Sons Printers); 'C.A. LION CACHET DES.' (C.A. Lion Cachet Designer).
The note exhibits high-quality intaglio (engraved) printing characteristic of Joh. Enschedé en Zonen, one of Europe's premier security printers. The fine horizontal line patterns visible throughout provide security screening typical of banknote production. The intricate portrait engraving, complex decorative borders, and detailed arabesques are rendered through steel plate engraving with multiple color passes (green, blue, red, and beige noted), consistent with the advanced security printing standards of Nederlandsche Bank in this period.
The observed serial number format appears to be '7B 0281 5' or similar, consistent with the standard serial numbering system of this issue. The note displays the characteristic design of the 1941 issue with C.A. Lion Cachet's designer attribution. No overprints or date variations are evident. The handwriting/annotation visible on the front ('2.05.42') appears to be a collector's acquisition date rather than an official marking. No significant printing varieties have been identified from the visual analysis.
