Lion — NL Crypto Stamp 2

About the Dutch Variant

NL Crypto Stamp 2 Lion is PostNL's second crypto stamp, released on 10 October 2023 as part of the trilateral joint edition with Österreichische Post and POST Luxembourg. It directly follows the NL Crypto Stamp Bull (2022), PostNL's first crypto stamp and simultaneously the world's first bilateral joint edition.

The "NL Crypto Stamp 2" naming convention reflects the Dutch perspective: it is the second NL crypto stamp, with no reference to the joint numbering by Österreichische Post (CS 5.1) or POST Luxembourg (Cryptostamp 1.0). This different numbering logic is a curiosity of joint editions and confirms that each postal service maintains its own catalog tradition.

Design Specifics of the Dutch Variant

NL Crypto Stamp 2 Lion shows the lion looking forward — the middle of the three gaze directions Sandra Smulders devised for the joint edition. The background uses the red-white-blue Dutch flag with embossed crystal structure. Tulip patterns as on CS 4.0 Bull NL are absent — the national botanical element was omitted in favor of a more uniform joint-edition aesthetic.

Heraldic Significance

Unlike the Austrian variant, the lion has direct heraldic meaning in the Netherlands. The Golden Lion (Leeuw) has been the central heraldic animal since the 16th century — both on the Greater Coat of Arms of the Kingdom and in numerous provincial coats of arms. It symbolizes strength and vigilance and historically appears on coins, banners, and official documents.

This anchoring in the national emblem gives the NL variant a layer of meaning absent in Austria. In the Netherlands, the Lion edition is not only a crypto stamp with "King of the Beasts" symbolism but also a contemporary reinterpretation of the national heraldic heritage.

Postal Value

NL Crypto Stamp 2 Lion carries the value designation R for registered mail within the Netherlands up to 20 grams. Unlike CS 4.0 Bull NL, which was intended for international letters, the Lion edition is conceived as a national registered-mail stamp. This narrower usage emphasizes its character as a collector item — collectors typically pay the 9.25 EUR face value not for franking but for the philatelic and crypto-collector value.

Pre-Order and Availability

As with CS 4.0 Bull NL, PostNL offered subscribers a pre-order privilege. From 20 September 2023 — three weeks before the official release date — PostNL subscribers could reserve their stamps. The pre-order phase ran more quietly than in 2022 with the first NL Crypto Stamp; the collector market was more cautious in 2023 after the crypto winter.

Distribution occurred through three channels:

1. PostNL webshop (shop.postnl.nl) — primary online channel with worldwide shipping
2. Bruna stores — physical sales points in the Dutch bookstore chain
3. Onchain shop (cryptostamp.com) — joint online store of the three participating postal services

Secondary Market

NL Crypto Stamp 2 Lion trades today on Delcampe, eBay, Catawiki, and through specialized stamp dealers. Black variants typically trade between 25 and 75 EUR. Red lions reach collector prices in the low four-figure range — though without the heraldic loading of the LU variant (Lion Rouge has been the heraldic animal since the 13th century) or the purely national asymmetry of the AT variant.

The companion edition NL Crypto Stamp Safe — with three symbol variants Pacifier, Bottle, and Rainbow — was released in parallel and also trades on secondary markets. Collectors who speculate on the morphing mechanism often buy Lion and Safe stamps as a set, since morphing is one-time and irreversible and therefore permanently changes the token value.

Position in PostNL's Crypto Stamp History

NL Crypto Stamp 2 Lion is the second link in PostNL's crypto stamp chain and the first step toward the trilateral joint-edition tradition. The subsequent editions — Cryptostamp 2.0 Dragon (2024, quadrilateral with Belgium) and the Mythologie edition (2025, with Hermes motif for NL) — build on the Lion edition and establish PostNL as a reliable joint-issue partner.