Groningse halve stuiver Brabants 1604 - 1649

This is the Groningse Halve Stuiver Brabants, a coin created by the city of Groningen. Notice the circular form, compromised by wear and tear; its smooth surface bears an embossed square with the suggestion of a border. The coin presents a study in contrasts: the crisp geometry of the central square against the coin's irregular perimeter, and the sharp relief of the inscription juxtaposed with the flattened planes of the central field. The coin engages with structuralist ideas of binary oppositions. The central square, a symbol of order and control, is embedded within the chaos of the coin’s damaged edges. This tension is heightened by the semiotic function of the coin itself. It represents value and exchange, yet its physical state suggests a devaluation or a disruption of its intended purpose. Does the damage amplify or diminish the coin's value? Consider, then, how the formal qualities of this coin serve as a microcosm of larger cultural and philosophical debates around value, order, and the impact of time.