Gelderse duit, 1761 1761

This is a Gelderse duit, made in 1761 by the Province of Gelderland. It's made of copper, and likely struck from a die. The production of coins like this one was no simple matter; it involved mining the raw material, smelting, refining, and alloying it, and finally the skilled labor of a die cutter to make the image, and a coiner to actually strike the coin. As currency, this coin embodies the ways in which materials become implicated in systems of economic exchange. Its small size is in direct proportion to the limited purchasing power it represents. Consider the sheer number of these coins that must have been produced, each one passing through countless hands, facilitating transactions both large and small. The duit serves as a reminder of the intricate relationship between material culture, labor, and the flow of capital. It invites us to look beyond the conventional definition of art, and to recognize the artistry inherent in even the most functional of objects.