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Just as with almost any other product, the value of a coin is determined by supply and demand – and that is not always constant. The demand for a specific coin can be strongly linked to the economic or historical situation. A coronation or other specific event can increase the demand for coins that are in some way associated with it, but that demand will wane again over time. The same holds true for transitions from one type of metal to another, such as from silver to nickel, or for the introduction of a new denomination such as the 50 guilder coin. The supply can also fluctuate strongly, such as due to the auctioning off of a newly discovered haul of coins containing many identical pieces.
If the coins are not rare, the value depends first and foremost on their condition. The better their quality, the more they will be worth. Needless to say, in the case of more unusual coins, the degree of rarity plays a role too, but quality is the most important factor. A common coin that is graded FDC can sometimes have a higher value than a rare piece in sub-optimal condition. Poor-quality common coins are of virtually no value to a collector.
Even if they are not entirely FDC, coins that have been struck using polished dies are worth many times the value of common pieces. And it goes without saying that coins that have had a hole drilled through them or with a soldered loop have usually lost their numismatic value, unless it is an extremely rare specimen. For more information about this, see the section on ‘Coin quality’.
Price catalogues
There are various price catalogues for Dutch coins, and a lot of information can be found online too. Nevertheless, it can be difficult to interpret the prices given. Do they indicate a possible purchase price? Is it a sum that the collector can expect to get when selling the coin? In the case of auctions, does the hammer price include or exclude the average of 20%-25% commission that is charged to the buyer or seller? Is it a one-off sale price at auction as the result of a bidding war between just two keen enthusiasts? Or is the value based on a large amount of data and transactions, etc.? How was the quality graded?
So as you can see, putting a value on coins is not an exact science, but it is possible to indicate the general price range of the coins.