Verenigde Amsterdamse Compagnie, munt ter vervanging van de Spaanse 4 realen 1601

This is a coin made in 1601 by Jacob de Jonge for the Dutch East India Company, intended to replace the Spanish currency then in circulation. Minted at a time when the Dutch Republic was flexing its mercantile muscles, the coin is a fascinating example of the politics of imagery. The coat of arms of Amsterdam is displayed prominently, flanked by crowned lions, symbols of power and civic pride. On the reverse, the lion of Holland reinforces the message of Dutch sovereignty. The Dutch East India Company was a powerful institution, a symbol of the nation's global reach. Art historians and numismatists examine archival records, trade reports, and company documents to understand the economic and political context of this coin. The coin's imagery reflects the complex interplay of trade, power, and national identity in the Dutch Golden Age. These objects offer tangible connections to the social conditions of the past.