Utrechtse halve gulden, 1764. Afslag in goud 1764

The province of Utrecht minted this gold 'Utrechtse halve gulden' in 1764. As currency, it embodies the economic and political power structures of its time. Consider the Dutch Republic in the 18th century, a period marked by both colonial wealth and internal social stratification. Coins like this one circulated amidst a society deeply shaped by mercantile capitalism and unequal distribution of resources. The coin features a crowned shield with a lion, symbols reflecting regional pride and authority. Gold, as a material, speaks to notions of wealth, status, and historical trade routes. How might the everyday exchange of money, deeply interwoven with identity and power, perpetuate or challenge social norms? This coin is a potent reminder that even seemingly neutral objects carry the weight of history and human experience.