Plak uit Holland van Willem V, 1345-1389 1376 - 1378

Editor: So, this is a coin from Holland, "Plak uit Holland van Willem V," dating from around 1376-1378, during the reign of Willem V. It's metal, obviously, and has a raised relief design. It feels like such a small object, but it’s packed with historical weight. What stands out to you about it? Curator: Immediately, I think of materiality and production. Consider the metal itself: where did it come from? Who mined it, under what conditions? Crafting this coin was labour, its creation intricately tied to economic systems of the late medieval period. We tend to glorify rulers, but rarely do we acknowledge the hands that produced their power symbols. Editor: That's a really interesting point. I hadn't thought about the labour involved in something so small. Do you think the material itself—the choice of metal—conveys any specific meaning? Curator: Absolutely. The type of metal used wasn't arbitrary; it signalled value, power, and trustworthiness. Was this coin made from a precious metal? That choice has socio-political ramifications: What’s the relationship to ideas of power, wealth and control at this moment? Editor: So, you're saying that examining something as simple as a coin’s materials can tell us about larger structures of power and labour during that period? Curator: Precisely! And the act of creating a coin is also important to note – circulating money, with the portrait of a leader, and that leader's coat of arms or symbols – all meant to reinforce power but also influence everyday life. Editor: It really gives you a lot to think about, it goes beyond a historical relic into tangible cultural and labor history. Curator: Exactly. It underscores the intricate relationships between rulers, laborers, and materials in the making of power and influencing economies of scale.