Netherlands 5 Euro 2018 Fanny Blankers-Koen First Day of Issue

Fanny Blankers-Koen (1918-2004) was, according to many, the best Sportswoman the Netherlands ever had. She was a great athlete who attained 12 World Records and 57 National Records. She had the misfortune that, during a large part of her sports career, the Second World War took place. She could peak at the London Olympics in 1948 and won no fewer than 4 gold medals! She was called the Flying Dutchmam (the Flying Housewife) internationally. After the Olympic Games, she received a bicycle from the City Council of Amsterdam as a gift. A huge difference from the prizes that are earned today. She was also known to use psychological influences against her competition for the races. After her sports career she was active as a coach of other athletes and she was Chef d'Equipe of the Dutch delegation to the Olympic Games of 1960, 1964 and 1968. In 1999 she was appointed as "Athlete of the Century" and in 2012 she was included in the IAAF Hall of Fame. In Hengelo the stadium is named after her (FBK-Stadion) where the matches in her name are held annually. In the year 2018 it is 100 years ago that FBK was born and in memory of this a special 5 Euro coin was issued. This coin radiates dynamism and speed. On the face FBK is depicted twelve times running at full speed. In the outer circle of the coin a seconds counter is shown to emphasize the speed. Around these the text "Fanny Blankers-Koen" and the year 2018 are shown. In the centre of the coin the value indication of 5 Euro is shown, cryptically, as a fast value. The reverse of the coin is in harmony with the face. The outline of the face of King Willem Alexander is also depicted twelve times that represent the same speed. In the centre there are 12 pearls, these have been invented by the designers, where they took inspiration from the hairnet of Queen Juliana which can be seen on the old Dutch Guilder coins! In the outer circle of the coin is the text æWillem-Alexander Koning Der NederlandenÆ. The quality of the coin is UNC (Uncirculated). The coin is mounted in a numbered coincard which was only available on the day of issue û 3 June 2018. The coincard itself is presented in a beautiful, small, signed and numbered envelope on which the day of issue is prominent.