MONEY, WEIGHTS, AND MEASURES

1081

The Bank of the Netherlands is a private institution, but it is the only one which has the right of issuing bank-notes. This right was granted in 1863 for 25 years, in 1888 prolonged for 15 years, and prolonged again for the same term in 1903, with some alterations in the conditions ; e.g. all the paper money is to be issued by the Bank. The Bank does the same business as other banks only with more guarantees. Two-fifths of the paper money in circulation must be covered. It has agencies in all places of importance.

Notes in Year Circulation Marcli 31

Total Exchanges March 31

Stock of Gold in July

1,000 guilders 92,500 121,420 109,770 139,690 145,070

S.tock of Silver in July

1,000 guilders

1908 265,947,760

1909 273,578,470

1910 280,552,730

1911 283,270,075

1912 298,964,980

1,000 guilders 658,854,720 680,060,202 706,277,050 752,832,075 783,720,425

1,000 guilders 50,500 42,270 27,080 22,240 11,380

The capital amounts to 20,000,000 guilders, the reserve fund to 5,500,000 guilders. The Bank keeps the State-Treasury and the cash of the State Postal Savings-Bank and of other institutions. It receives 3^ per cent, of the clear gains; the remainder is divided between the State and the Bank in proportion of 2 : 1.

There are many savings-banks, all private. Besides these there is a State postal savings-bank, established in 1881. The following table gives some par- ticulars of both : —

Year

TM^r^v.^.. r.f Amount Number of j„^„„,-<.„^

1907 State P. S. B. Private banks

190S State P. S. B. Private banks

1909 State P. S. B. Private banks

1910 State P. S. B. Private banks

1911 State P. S. B.

23t) •245 -M.J 2(!7

09,202 28,547

72,101 30,942

77,014 85,650

7S,859 37,316

81,263

Amount ^ '^^^^\ ^^- ; „ , . Amount withdrawn Pf ^ts at i Number of ^ ^

end of year Depositors at * .!

(in 1,000 end of year '^*^^- gldrs.) i

(in 1,000 gldrs.)

66,9.80 33,845

69,695 29,417

72,200 31,940

79,126 36,601

79,065

Gldrs.

145,496 90,995

1.51,638 94,667

160,424 103,777

164,277 110,879

170,961

1,336,846 401,0.50

1.401,670 411,494

1.462,615 433,209

1,510,033

451,747

1,556,950

25-32 15-83

26 03 16-25

27-39 17-71

27-63 18-65

28-39

The reserve fund of the private savings banks amounted in 1910 to 15,878,000 guilders, of the State P. S. B 848,314 guilders in 1911.

Money, Weights, and Measures.

Money.

The standard coin is the 10-florin piece weighing 6720 grammes, "900 fine, and thus containing 6*048 grammes of fine gold. The unit of the silver coinage is the gulden or florin, weighing 10 grammes, "945 fine and containing 9 '45 grammes of fine silver.

Gold is legal tender, and the silver coins issued before 1875.

The principal ooijis are : —