Amsterdamsche Omnibus Onderneming, penning van een controleur 1839

This is a bronze conductor's coin from the Amsterdamsche Omnibus Onderneming. Made by an anonymous artist, it captures a moment when public transportation began to shape the social and physical landscape of cities. What strikes me about this coin is its relationship to labor and class. These coins were not currency for the general public, but tools specific to the work of conductors. Their use speaks to the emerging structures of labor and the control of movement within the city. The coins represent the labor and lives of countless individuals who navigated the city's streets, connecting disparate communities and facilitating the daily rhythms of urban life. These conductors, often working-class individuals, played a crucial role in the social tapestry of Amsterdam. The anonymity of the coin's maker also speaks volumes about the world of labor in which it circulated. This penning serves as a reminder of the often-unseen hands that shape our daily lives.