Great Cities Collection: New York

Authentic Dutch VOC Copper Duit in Black Presentation Box

Travel back to the beginnings of New York City with an authentic copper duit from the era of Dutch colonial trade.

Long before Wall Street and the Empire State Building, New York was a Dutch settlement called New Amsterdam. In 1626, Peter Minuit famously arranged the purchase of Manhattan for trade goods valued at approximately 60 Dutch guilders.

The copper duit was one of the small-denomination coins associated with the Dutch commercial world of this period. Issued for the Dutch East India Company—known by its initials, VOC—the duit circulated throughout the company’s vast international trading network.

Because of its association with Dutch New Amsterdam and early colonial commerce, the duit is sometimes referred to as the “First New York Penny.”

What You Will Receive

• One authentic Dutch VOC-era copper duit

• Black budget presentation box

• A historically fascinating collectible connected to early global commerce

Coin Specifications

• Denomination: 1 Duit

• Value: 1/160 of a Dutch gulden

• Composition: Copper

• Historical period: Dutch colonial and VOC era

• Issuer: Dutch East India Company or associated Dutch provincial mint

• Collection: Great Cities Collection—New York

Historical Significance

The VOC was established in 1602 and became one of history’s most influential commercial enterprises. It operated ships, trading posts, warehouses, settlements, and administrative centers across a vast international network.

This copper duit represents:

• The rise of international trade

• The beginnings of the modern corporation

• Dutch colonial activity in the 17th and 18th centuries

• The commercial world from which New Amsterdam—and eventually New York City—emerged

• An affordable entry point into colonial and world coin collecting

An Excellent Gift or Collectible

This historic coin makes a memorable gift for:

• World and colonial coin collectors

• New York history enthusiasts

• Students and educators

• Collectors of early American history

• Business, banking, and financial-history enthusiasts

• Anyone fascinated by the origins of global commerce

Condition and Packaging

The coin is housed in a black budget presentation box, making it suitable for display, storage, or gift giving.

These are genuine historical coins that circulated long ago. Normal wear, oxidation, surface deposits, irregular striking, and other age-related characteristics should be expected.

Images are representative of the coin type and general quality. The actual coin received may vary in date, mint, design details, color, patina, toning, wear, and overall appearance.

Own a Tangible Connection to Old New Amsterdam

Although no surviving coin can be identified as one of the specific pieces involved in the Manhattan transaction, this authentic duit comes from the same broader Dutch commercial tradition that shaped early New York.

Own the coin traditionally known as the “First New York Penny”—a remarkable reminder of the humble beginnings of one of the world’s greatest commercial cities.