Zeeuwse stuiver, 1738 1738

This is a Zeeuwse stuiver made in 1738 by the Province of Zeeland. The coin's design is structured around symmetry and centralized typography. The name ‘Zeelandia’ is stacked vertically, flanked by the year and coronated with a heraldic crest. This deliberate composition directs our gaze to the coin's primary message. Consider how the coin challenges fixed meanings. It is an object of utility, yet it symbolizes wealth and provincial identity. Its circular form and the tactile ridges around the edge further invite a material engagement, turning it into a token of exchange that embodies economic and social relationships. The design and materiality of the coin act as signifiers within a broader cultural and economic exchange. This coin invites us to reflect on the interplay between symbolic value and material form, acknowledging that its significance transcends its monetary worth.