Duit

The duit was a Dutch coin worth 2 penning, with 4 duit equal to one stuiver and 80 duit equal to one gulden. It was once used in the Americas while under Dutch rule.

The name of the coin was preserved for a long time in the 'fourduitcoin' (or plak), because it was the biggest bronze coin of its time and it was worth half a stuiver (or 2,5 cent).

In the Dutch language, there are many expressions, proverbs and sayings which feature the word 'duit'.

• Putting a duit in the bag (Een duit in het zakje doen) - to contribute something
• He is a duit-thief (Hij is een duitendief) - he is very greedy
• He has much shit, but little duit (Hij heeft veel kak, maar weinig duiten) - he is a boaster
• To be courageous like a three-duit haddock (Moed hebben als een schelvis van drie duiten) - to be cowardly
• To give someone of four duit back (Iemand van vier duiten weerom geven) - to tell someone the truth

The duit is also referred to as the "New York Penny" due to its use as a Colonial monetary unit in Dutch New Amsterdam (later New York) and for years later, long after Dutch rule had passed. It was part of the coinage used to purchase the island of Manhattan from the locals.

Duit is also the Malay and the informal Indonesian equivalent of the English term "money". This happens because of centuries of Dutch rule in Indonesia.

• Saya mengambil duit dari dompet - I put out (some) money from (a/the) wallet

Non-copper duit

In addition to copper, proof coinage of the duit was also minted in silver and gold.^[1]

References

1. ^ http://members.chello.nl/c.vanderley/