Regarding the Silver colored Tulip set both the packaging and the coins themselves imitated. We suspect the coins are original coins in circulation quality, where a color has been applied. The coins in the official colored Tulip set are silver coins, minted in a proof quality. If is not prohibited to apply color to a coin.

The Royal Dutch Mint is only issuing a warning that there is a set circulating that resembles the official colored Tulip set, but which differs in the area of material, quality and color and which is not authorized by the Royal Dutch Mint. This way we hope to avoid disappointment when customers assume to order an official colored Tulip set and instead receive and imitation.

This is the reaction of the Dutch Mint to my inquiries about the imitation colored Tulip coins that seem to be circulating. It seems there is nothing illegal about the coins itself. It’s just a warning for buyers to take into account a set might not be the official one.

The status of colored coins for collectors remains an unclear area. There are official releases and there are imitations, but the imitations are completely legal. Coloring the coin yourself is one of the possibilities. As such a colored coins really does not add to the collection. It is nice to see but it will always be an action applied to the coin after it has been minted. Adding color is an action which can be executed at any time, even a year later, which implies that the addition of color really is unrelated to the original minted coin.