Utrechtse dubbele stuiver, 1794 1794

This is a Utrechtse dubbele stuiver, or double penny, crafted in 1794 by the Province of Utrecht. As a form of currency, this small silver coin was a tangible representation of economic power and social structures in the Netherlands during a period of significant political upheaval. In the late 18th century, the Dutch Republic was grappling with internal divisions between the Orangists, who supported the Stadtholder, and the Patriots, who sought democratic reforms. This coin, minted during that era, embodies the tensions between tradition and change, authority and autonomy. The imagery on the coin is fascinating: on one side a crowned shield with a lion rampant. The other side reads "TRAIECTUM 1794." In Latin "Traiectum" refers to Utrecht, connecting the coin to a specific regional identity, but also the broader shifts in power and governance. The double stuiver served as a small but potent symbol of these complex dynamics, embodying the intersection of regional identity, economic exchange, and political transformation.