Gelderse duit, 1684 1684

This is a Gelderse duit, minted in 1684 by the Province of Gelderland. The coin’s design is a study in contrasts and semiotic representation, encapsulating the province’s identity through symbolic forms. Consider the coin’s circular format, a shape which inherently suggests unity and wholeness. Yet, this is disrupted by the coin's worn edges, a testament to its circulation. One side features the year and lettering encased within a beaded and laurel border. The opposite side displays the Gelderland coat of arms topped with a crown. The lion rampant, repeated, stands as a motif of power and dominion. The textural contrast between the smooth fields of the coin and the raised, detailed emblems creates a tactile experience, inviting closer inspection. What might appear as simple currency is, in fact, a complex arrangement of signs. Here, each visual element is carefully constructed to convey meaning within a structured system of representation, underscoring the intersection of economic function and symbolic communication.