Gelderse duit, 1739 1739

This is a Gelderse duit, a coin made of copper in the province of Gelderland in 1739. Though small, this coin speaks volumes about the economic systems of the 18th century. The process of minting coins was highly specialized. First, the copper would have been mined and smelted, then refined into planchets - the blank discs ready for striking. A die, engraved with the design, was then hammered onto the planchet, imprinting the image in relief. The relative softness of copper allowed for this detailed impression. Look closely and you can see the provincial coat of arms. The mass production of coins like this reflects the rise of mercantile capitalism. Each coin represents a tiny fraction of labor, a token of exchange that facilitated trade and supported the growing market economy. By considering the materials and making of this humble coin, we can better understand the broader social and economic forces at play in the 18th century.