Hendrik Jan Van Der Wiel

Henk van der Wiel (deceased 1994), a neurologist and psychiatrist, developed a lifelong passion for numismatics, inspired by his father, Lieutenant-Colonel Alko van der Wiel, a renowned numismatist. As a military physician, he attained the rank of lieutenant-colonel and was awarded the Resistance Memorial Cross for his WWII contributions.

A fifth-generation collector, Henk joined the Royal Dutch Numismatic Society in 1949, serving as president (1968–1974) and earning honorary membership in 1988. He contributed extensively to the society’s Yearbook (1967–1992), focusing on Dutch provincial coinage and the Principality of Orange. In 1978, he was awarded the Silver Literature Medal for his pioneering research.

Beyond Dutch coinage, his interests included the coinage of Asia, particularly Japan, China, Tibet, Nepal, and India. In 1973, he joined the Oriental Numismatic Society, becoming regional secretary for continental Europe in 1977.