10 NLG #376

Front

The common snipe (Gallinago gallinago), a wading bird found in wetlands across Europe and Asia, depicted in abstract geometric form with yellow, orange and blue patterns. The snipe was selected as the subject for this denomination in the final series of Dutch guilder notes, which featured native birds on each denomination. The design incorporates a barcode security element and Dutch text describing the bird's habitat in marshlands ('JOH ENSCHEDE EN ZONEN IVJP' visible at top). This highly modern abstract design by graphic artist Jaap Drupsteen and illustrator Ootje Oxenaar marked a radical departure from traditional banknote portraiture, celebrating Dutch nature through geometric patterns and innovative security features.

Back

This is a mismatched image showing a 2.50 gulden (2½ guilder) Zilverbon (Silver Certificate) from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, dated 1 October 1918, during World War I. This emergency currency was issued when silver coinage became scarce, and these paper notes served as legal tender backed by silver reserves. The note reads 'ZILVERBON Groot TWEE EN EEN HALVE GULDEN' (Silver certificate worth two and one-half guilders) and features signatures of 'De Agent van het Ministerie van Financiën' and 'De Minister van Financiën', along with serial number Series P № 404171. The text 'WETTIG BETAALMIDDEL KONINKRIJK DER NEDERLANDEN' identifies it as legal tender of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

History

CRITICAL MISMATCH: The front image shows a modern 10 gulden note from the 1997 Snipe series (the final Dutch guilder series before euro conversion), designed by Jaap Drupsteen. These notes were issued 1997–2002 and demonetized on 28 January 2002 when the Netherlands adopted the euro. The back image shows a completely different note: a 2.50 gulden Zilverbon (emergency silver certificate) from WWI era, dated 1 October 1918, issued during metal-coinage shortages. These are NOT the front and back of the same banknote. The 1997 series featured native Dutch birds on each denomination (10 gulden = snipe, 25 = robin, 50 = sunflower, 100 = snowy owl, 250 = lighthouse, 1000 = woodcock) in highly abstract, geometric modernist designs incorporating advanced security features. The series represented Dutch graphic design excellence and was among the world's most secure banknotes of its time. Printer identification 'JOH ENSCHEDE EN ZONEN' and date '©1997 DE NEDERLANDSCHE BANK NV' visible on front; designer 'J T G DRUPSTEEN' printed at lower right.