rijksdaalder: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 (Extremely Rare)Historical, Numismatic, Formal
Quick answer
What does “rijksdaalder” mean?
A former silver coin of the Dutch Republic and the Netherlands, equal to two and a half guilders.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A former silver coin of the Dutch Republic and the Netherlands, equal to two and a half guilders.
Historically, a monetary unit; also used metaphorically to refer to something of substantial but not enormous value, or as a term in historical/numismatic contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No discernible difference in usage. The word is equally obscure and historical in both varieties.
Connotations
Historical, archaic, specialised.
Frequency
Virtually never encountered in general text or speech in either variety.
Grammar
How to Use “rijksdaalder” in a Sentence
The {rijksdaalder} was minted in...He paid two {rijksdaalders} for...A {rijksdaalder} is equivalent to 2.5 guilders.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical or economic papers discussing early modern European trade.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Used in numismatics (coin collecting).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “rijksdaalder”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “rijksdaalder”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “rijksdaalder”
- Mispronouncing as /rɪdʒdaːldər/.
- Using it as a synonym for any old coin.
- Capitalising the word (it is typically lowercase in English).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It is a historical coin that was demonetised with the adoption of the euro and earlier decimalisation.
No. Its use would be confusing to most people. Use terms like 'old Dutch coin' instead.
A 'rijksdaalder' was a specific coin worth 2.5 guilders. A 'daalder' was a more general term for a thaler or dollar, often worth about 1.5 guilders.
It is useful only for reading historical texts, studying numismatics, or understanding the etymology of 'dollar'.
A former silver coin of the Dutch Republic and the Netherlands, equal to two and a half guilders.
Rijksdaalder is usually historical, numismatic, formal in register.
Rijksdaalder: in British English it is pronounced /ˈrʌɪksˌdɑːldə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈraɪksˌdɑːldər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not worth a rijksdaalder (very rare, implying something is worthless).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the 'Rijksmuseum' (a famous Dutch museum) and a 'dollar'. A 'Rijksdaalder' is a Dutch museum-piece of a dollar-like coin.
Conceptual Metaphor
A RELIC (of a past economic system).
Practice
Quiz
What was the value of a rijksdaalder?