For the Queen's Government was in exile, coins of this emission struck by the German Authorities during the Second World War do not bear crown and any other insignia of the Kingdom.The coins are considered a physical representation of the political and economic control exercised by the German authorities during the war.

During the German occupation, the Netherlands faced acute metal shortages as strategic materials were diverted to the war effort. Copper, essential for ammunition and shell casings, was requisitioned for military use. As a result, everyday coinage was struck in zinc, a cheaper and more readily available metal.
The 1 cent zinc coins issued under occupation reflect this wartime economy: utilitarian in design, lightweight, and prone to corrosion. They stand as tangible evidence of civilian life under occupation and the total mobilization of resources for war.

Towards the end of the first year of the war it became clear that the occupying forces were preparing measures to withdraw the coins in circulation. In doing so, on the one hand, they hoped to banish the annoying memory of the House of Orange, which every coin brought with it. While by taking the solid pre-war coins, which consisted of bronze, copper/nickel and silver, they hoped to obtain a large amount of valuable raw materials for the war industry. This last objective was certainly not achieved, because only just under 8% of all coins in circulation were ultimately surrendered, despite the threat of heavy penalties.
The first coins to be replaced were the square nickels made of copper/nickel. The design of the new coins was assigned to Nico de Haas, editor of the weekly magazine 'Storm' of the Dutch SS. Because the higher coin values ​​were replaced by notes, De Haas's assignment was limited to the denominations of 25 cents, 10 cents, 5 cents, 2½ cents and 1 cent. De Haas chose a number of 'original Dutch symbols' for his designs. After approval of the test pieces by the Secretary General of Finance on August 29, 1941, production began.

The zinc 1-cent coin was minted in the Netherlands between 1941 and 1943 during World War II. It was worth 1/20, or .05, of the guilder, and designed by Nico de Haas, a Dutch national-socialist.

Delve into the rich tapestry of Dutch history with this 1943 Netherlands 1 Cent coin, a tangible piece of the German Occupation during World War II. Crafted from zinc, this circulated coin bears the marks of its era and the challenges of its journey through time, offering a genuine connection to a bygone era.

The Netherlands 1 Cent coin minted in zinc between 1941 and 1944 is a direct artifact of the German occupation during World War II. These coins, along with other zinc denominations (2½, 5, 10, and 25 cents), were introduced after the occupying forces seized copper and silver for their own war industries. They are characterized by a lack of royal insignia, as Queen Wilhelmina was in exile, and feature a design that replaced traditional heraldry with agricultural imagery.
Contextual Details:
Composition & Reason: Due to metal shortages and the seizure of copper and silver for the German war effort, the traditional bronze 1-cent coin was replaced with zinc, which was considered "dirty" or "ugly" and often deteriorated quickly.
Design Changes: The coins were designed by Dutch National Socialist Nico de Haas. They omit all references to the Dutch monarchy and feature a, a stylized, geometric "circled cross with a banner below" on the obverse and "1 ct" surrounded by waves and a grain stalk on the reverse.
Time Period: The zinc 1-cent coins were produced from 1941 to 1944.
Circulation & Aftermath: While intended as emergency currency, these coins circulated throughout the war and remained in use until about 1949–1950, when they were gradually replaced by new, post-war coins.
Numismatic Value: These coins are common in circulated condition but are highly sought after by collectors as "war coins" representing the occupation period.

The coins are considered a physical representation of the political and economic control exercised by the German authorities during the war.