History of the Gouden Tientje (10 Guilder Gold)
The gouden tientje — the golden tenner — was the everyday gold coin of the Netherlands from 1875 until the Depression took the country off gold in 1933. Willem III issues ran to 1889; Wilhelmina’s coinage then tracked her lifetime, from the young "hangend haar" portrait of the 1890s to the mature profiles of the 1920s and 30s.
Vast quantities of 1911–1933 tientjes survive in bank hoards, so common dates trade as bullion with a modest premium — the standard way Dutch families hold physical gold. Scarcer dates, especially the 1892–1898 young-head Wilhelmina issues, carry real numismatic premiums.
The gouden tientje was struck from 1875 to 1933 in 90% gold. Each coin weighs 6.729 grams (0.1947 oz gold). Production took place at Utrecht.
How much is a gouden tientje worth?
Like every collectible coin, the value of a gouden tientje comes down to grade, rarity and demand. The ranges below are approximate retail prices collectors pay for problem-free examples — coins that have been cleaned, scratched or holed usually trade well below these figures.
Printed price guides age quickly. The most honest benchmark is what comparable coins actually sold for, which is why CoinVault Pro shows live values built on Numista catalog data and real eBay sold results whenever it identifies a coin.
- Common dates (1911–1933), VF+: gold value + 3–8%
- Willem III dates, VF: gold value + 10–25%
- Wilhelmina young head (1892–98): €500–€1,500+
- Rare dates (1879/77, 1898 overdates...): €1,000+
How to identify a genuine Gouden Tientje (10 Guilder Gold)
Before you get excited about a potential find, confirm that the coin in your hand matches the genuine article. Work through this checklist:
When a coin fails any of these checks, treat it with suspicion. Modern counterfeits can be convincing at arm's length, but weight, dimensions and die details rarely lie.
- Standard: 6.729 grams of .900 gold, 22.5 mm — verify with scale and calipers.
- The 1898 exists with two different privy marks; the rarer combination brings a premium.
- Counterfeits from the 1960s–70s gold trade exist; genuine coins show sharp edge reeding and correct die axis.
- Five-guilder gold coins (1912) are a separate, smaller type also worth checking.
Check your gouden tientje with CoinVault Pro
The fastest way to find out what you have is to photograph the coin with CoinVault Pro. The app identifies it using Gemini AI combined with Coin-CLIP image matching, estimates a grade on the full Sheldon 1–70 scale, and shows live market values built on Numista catalog data and real eBay sold prices.
From there you can add the coin to your collection, track its value over time, put upgrades on your wishlist, or list it on the in-app marketplace with escrow protection. The app is free to download on iOS and Android.