Dukaat van goud afkomstig van het wrak van de Oost-Indiëvaarder 't Vliegend Hart 1729 - 1734

This is a gold ducat originating from the wreckage of the Dutch East India Company ship, 't Vliegend Hart. Though anonymous, its creation reflects the Netherlands' 17th- and 18th-century dominance in global trade. Consider this coin as more than currency. It’s a symbol of a complex system deeply entwined with colonialism and exploitation. These ships transported not only precious metals and spices, but also enforced unequal power dynamics, facilitating the transatlantic slave trade, impacting countless lives. The coin's golden sheen belies the human cost of its creation and circulation, representing fortunes built upon the suffering of others. The coin is a tangible reminder of a past where economic prosperity for some was directly linked to the oppression of many. Let it prompt reflection on the legacies of colonialism that persist today.