Zilveren denariën, 8e en 9e eeuw 1857 - 1864

This print from an unknown artist depicts silver denariën from the 8th and 9th centuries. The denarius was a coin used widely throughout Europe during this period, and these particular specimens were found in the Netherlands. The presence of these coins speaks volumes about the economic and social conditions of the time, including the importance of trade routes and the influence of powerful empires. Although the coins may appear simple, the images they bear were imbued with political and cultural significance. Consider the hands that exchanged these coins, the merchants who used them to trade goods, and the rulers whose power they represented. The emotional and experiential aspects of these coins lie in their capacity to connect us to a distant past. They invite us to reflect on the ways in which economic systems shape societies. What can these objects tell us about wealth, power, and identity in the early medieval period?