It is 60 years ago this year that Anton Geesink made history by becoming the first non-Japanese to win the world judo championship in the heaviest class. In honor of the Utrecht judoka, the Royal Dutch Mint is minting a commemorative coin. The design of the coin was unveiled today by granddaughter Leonie Geesink at the statue of Anton Geesink in Utrecht. The Anton Geesink Vijfje is minted by order of the Ministry of Finance.
The legacy of Anton Geesink is quite remarquable. Anton Geesink (1934-2010) was born and raised in Utrecht. He gained worldwide fame by winning the judo world championship. Hereafter he won the world title twice, twenty-one times the European championship and a gold medal at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo.
Geesink also championed his sport outside the judging mat. For instance, he invented the contrasting colors of the opponents. Whereas both judokas used to wear white during matches, nowadays one of them wears a blue suit. This makes judo matches much easier to follow for the referee and the public.
After winning his Olympic title Geesink opened a DOJO in his hometown Utrecht.
The street where the school is located has since been called the Anton Geesinkstraat. In the Utrecht District C, where Geesink was born, the judoka has been immortalized as a statue. At this statue, granddaughter Leonie Geesink unveiled the design of the commemorative coin today.
Coins Specifications
Metal: Gold
Fineness: 900/1000
Weight: 6.72g
Diameter: 22.5 mm
Edge: Serrated
Quality: Proof
Nominal value: €10
Mintage: 1,000 coins
Metal: Silver
Content: 925/1000
Weight: 15.50g
Diameter: 33mm
Edge lettering: * GOD * ZIJ * MET * ONS
Quality: Proof
Nominal value: €5
Mintage: 4,600 coins (of which 500 in Special Set)
Anton Geesink is still a great example for fans of the judo sport. This is also the case for Noël van ‘t End, who won the World Judo Championship in 2019. He won this title in the legendary Budokan judo hall in Japan, following the footsteps of Anton Geesink; Geesink won his Olympic title in the same hall. This summer, Van ‘t End will go to Tokyo again for the Olympic Games.
This exclusive Silver Set contains the Anton Geesink 5 Euro Coin Silver Proof and a unique Noël van ‘t End Silver Proof medal. A portrait of Noël van ‘t End is depicted on the obverse of this exclusive medal.
If you turn the issue around, you will see the front of a judo uniform, half in white and half in blue. This symbolizes the contrasting colours of the suits that judokas wear during competitions. This was invented by Anton Geesink, to make the match easier to follow by the referee and the audience. You also see two judokas bending towards each other, a sign of respect for the opponent. The Special Set comes in a luxury box, which is also decorated with the judo uniform with the contrasting colours. The wooden panel in which the issues are framed was once part of a wooden floor from the gym Anton Geesink founded in Utrecht. The panel is engraved with the words “Tokio toen en nu” (Tokyo then and now).
Metal: Silver plated copper
Weight: 10.50g
Diameter: 29mm
Quality: Brilliant Uncirculated
Nominal value: €5
Mintage: 12,500 coins
Metal: Silver plated copper
Weight: 10.50g
Diameter: 29mm
Quality: UNC
Nominal value: €5
Mintage: 50.000 coins
Sources: KNM (dutch Mint) and NUMISMAG.
