“The first New York penny”

Denomination: Duit

Metal: Copper

Date: Circa (1600- 1800) various dates

Mint: Netherlands

Mount: 14k Gold      

Description:  The Duit was a copper Dutch coin worth 2 penning, with 8 duit pieces equal to one stuiver and 160 duit pieces equal to one gulden. In Dutch Indonesia 4 duit pieces were equal to one stuiver. To prevent smuggling, the Dutch East India Company (VOC) ordered special coins with the company monogram embossed upon them. Only those pieces were valid in Indonesia. The duit was once used in what’s now modern-day New York and other areas under Dutch rule.

History: This coin is often referred to as the "First New York Penny." They were produced by the Dutch East India Company for use in the spice trade. At the peak of this companies' history, they employed 36,000 people facilitating trade from Asia and the East. The coins were minted in the Netherlands and used by the company for trade in the Dutch colonies and around the world.  They are still found in Dutch VOC shipwreck sites and former VOC colonies.

New York Penny