Lighthouse banknote
Numismatics
Money collection
Discover money from the past and present
Money collection
From silver bars found in shipwrecks and salt bars from Ethiopia to a giant rai stone from the island of Yap. From the very first banknote issued by De Nederlandsche Bank in 1814 to medals rich in Renaissance symbolism. Our money collection covers everything to do with money in all its many different forms. There’s money from every country, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. And there’s money from every period of history, from ancient times to the present day. The National Numismatic Collection contains more than 400,000 objects. It’s the largest money collection in the Netherlands.
(Image: Shutterstock)
Exhibition and online collection
See over 400 extraordinary objects in the Everything of value exhibition, from coins and paper money to medals. Dive into the history of our money here, and listen to stories about its origin and use. The exhibition is a great introduction to De Nederlandsche Bank’s money collection. You can also view more than 100,000 objects online.
© Shutterstock/beeldbewerking DNB
© DNB
Events and tours
To learn much more about the special objects in the money collection, come to one of our lectures, workshops or other activities, or take a guided tour. The curator will tell you all the hidden stories and point out the special details of each object. Check our calendar for upcoming events and tours, and sign up!
Extraordinary money, extraordinary stories
De Nederlandsche Bank’s money collection contains more than 400,000 objects, small and large, unique and mundane. Every object has its own special story. Like the beautiful 50-guilder note The Sunflower, ancient Chinese banknotes and a special gold coin featuring a portrait of Constantine the Great. Discover all these stories and find out more about the history of our money.
Nog invullen
About the money collection
De Nederlandsche Bank manages a unique collection that covers everything to do with money in all its many different forms. There’s also an extensive numismatic library. Together with our partners, we want to build and share knowledge about money. Read more about how we manage our collection, our research and the history of our collection.
Coin finds
Want to learn more about an ancient coin, medal or other object you’ve found? De Nederlandsche Bank can help you identify what kind of item you have. We will also share the results of our research with you.
© Shutterstock
© DNB
On loan
De Nederlandsche Bank regularly lends objects to museums for exhibitions to make sure that lots of people get a chance to see them. If you are interested in an object for an exhibition, then a loan may be a viable option. Many objects in our collection are of great value, and some are irreplaceable. That’s why De Nederlandsche Bank imposes certain conditions on loans, for example to ensure proper security and climate conditions. We never charge a fee for the objects we give on loan. We’ll be happy to discuss options on an individual basis.
Donations
Looking for a good home for a special coin, medal or other object? You can donate these items to De Nederlandsche Bank, where they will be part of the largest money collection in the Netherlands. Because De Nederlandsche Bank is a Public Benefit Organisation, this can also offer tax benefits.
© DNB
The history of the word ‘numismatics’
The word ‘numismatics’ is derived from the Latin word numisma (coin). This can be traced back to the Greek nómisma (money or currency), which in turn is based on the word nómos (law or custom).
Uitgelichte verhalen
