Assignat van honderdvijfentwintig livres, serie 1750, no. 765 uitgegeven 28 september 1793 Possibly 1793 - 1799

Editor: This is an Assignat, dating possibly from 1793 to 1799, a paper currency issued during the French Revolution. It’s made of paper, with typography and engraving. What strikes me is how such an ordinary object carries the weight of revolutionary ideals and turmoil. What symbolic layers am I missing? Curator: You've correctly identified the core irony here. A seemingly simple piece of paper embodies not only revolutionary ideals—Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité—but also a period of economic and social upheaval. Do you notice the other text printed around the border? Editor: Yes, “La loi punit de mort le contrefacteur" - the law punishes the counterfeiter with death and "La nation récompense le dénonciateur" - The nation rewards the informer. Those are strong symbols of a society dealing with very tough situations! Curator: Exactly! These phrases frame the central declarations of the Republic and offer a glimpse into the fears and values of the time. What about the design? Note the typography. It blends Neoclassical ideals with practical necessities. Editor: Now that you mention it, I see that contrast between the delicate calligraphy for the denomination and the stark pronouncements about counterfeiting. There's such a tension in this little rectangle, a fight to instill faith but with threats! Curator: The imagery evokes the ideals of the Republic. And then, in very direct language, what happens to you if you subvert those values. It’s a fascinating interplay of trust and coercion encoded in an object meant to facilitate exchange and build the nation. I wonder what kind of faith the citizens really had in these. Editor: I hadn’t thought of it that way, almost a contradiction embedded in something as simple as money. So much more to discover. Thanks! Curator: Indeed! And remember, objects like these are not just artifacts; they are vessels of memory, reflecting the complex tapestry of human experience.