While QR codes have appeared on advertisements, art, mobile apps and even sides of buildings, they hadn’t appeared on any currency until recently. To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the mint in Utrecht, the Royal Dutch Mint released some high-tech coins that beautifully combine old and new.

On the front, Queen Beatrix smiles from a 3D image. Around her face, elements of the mint building adorn the 5 Euro (silver) and 10 Euro (gold) coins. But when you turn the coin over, you see a QR code which scans the URL (http://www.q5g.nl) ‘Nieuwe Nederlandse Herdenkingsmunt 2011‘, a commemorative coin website.

The Royal Dutch Mint has unveiled the design for a limited-edition set of QR-coded coins on June 23, 2011. Although this is the first instance of QR codes appearing on coins, we’re sure it won’t be the last.