Hollandse leeuwendaalder, 1663 1663

Editor: Here we have the Hollandse leeuwendaalder from 1663. It is made of metal and resides in the Rijksmuseum collection. It depicts the profile of the province of Holland. What stands out is the incredible detail despite the small scale and the lion rampant, which I assume is of great importance. What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: This coin offers us a potent lens through which to examine 17th-century Dutch identity and global trade. The lion, of course, is a loaded symbol – it represents the Dutch Republic’s struggle for independence from Spain and became a powerful emblem of national pride and sovereignty. What does it mean, though, to put that symbol on currency circulated during the rise of the Dutch East India Company? Editor: I suppose it links Dutch power to global commerce? The lion on something that travelled the world in people's pockets. Curator: Precisely. Think about the power dynamics inherent in the use of this coin. Who benefited most from this trade, and who was potentially exploited? Currency wasn't neutral then and certainly isn't now. Consider how this 'lion' represented freedom and power for some, while simultaneously facilitating colonial expansion and economic control over others. What feelings does that invoke for you? Editor: It's complicated. A symbol of liberation also used as a tool of oppression, a currency representing independence also funding global subjugation. I guess I’ll never look at a coin the same way. Curator: Indeed. And that’s precisely why these seemingly small objects are so compelling. They force us to grapple with uncomfortable truths about power, privilege, and the legacies of colonialism. I appreciate you noticing the power of this symbol. Editor: Thank you, it’s helpful to consider art beyond aesthetics to think about power structures and colonialism.