Dubbele duit op naam van de VOC en de stad Utrecht met jaartal1790 1840 - 1843

This is a copper "Dubbele Duit", or double penny, made in 1790 in the Dutch city of Utrecht. These coins were produced on behalf of the Dutch East India Company, or VOC. Consider the relationship between the material and the message. Copper is a relatively soft base metal, so this coin would have been easy to produce, using a die-stamping process. The designs are simple: heraldic symbols on one side, and the VOC logo on the other. But don't be fooled by this apparent simplicity! The VOC was the first multinational corporation. And this little coin, which would have been practically worthless in itself, served as a token of the company's vast power. It reminds us that colonialism wasn't just about exploration and politics; it was also about global commerce, and the circulation of money. We can see how even the most functional of objects can carry immense cultural significance. It's a reminder to look closely at the world around us, and consider the stories that everyday objects can tell.