Reaal van achten, geslagen te Mexico, munt uit het wrak van de Oost-Indiëvaarder 't Vliegend Hart 1732

Here we have a silver coin, a Reaal van achten, minted in Mexico by Felipe Rivas de Angelo. It was recovered from the wreck of the Dutch East India Company ship 't Vliegend Hart. This coin whispers stories of global trade and colonial power. Minted in Mexico, it reflects the extraction of resources from the Americas by European powers. The Spanish coat of arms stamped on one side, and the cross on the other, serve as constant reminders of a colonial agenda justified by the crown and the church. The 'Vliegend Hart' went down in 1735. Think of the human cost of such voyages, the lives risked and often lost, driven by economic greed. The ocean floor becomes a burial ground, laden with silenced stories. This small, damaged coin carries the weight of history, inviting us to reflect on the complex legacies of trade, colonialism, and the human condition.