Utrechtse penning van Herman van Hoorne, 1150-1156 1150 - 1156

This is a silver Utrecht penny, made between 1150 and 1156 under Herman van Hoorne. This coin offers a glimpse into the economic and social structures of the medieval Netherlands, a time marked by the rise of trade and the increasing power of local rulers. The imagery on the coin – what appears to be a stylized depiction of a bishop's mitre – speaks to the intertwined nature of religious and secular authority in this period. The Bishopric of Utrecht held significant political power, and coins like these were not just monetary instruments but also symbols of that power. It reminds us that even the smallest objects can carry immense cultural weight, reflecting the values, beliefs, and power dynamics of their time. Consider how holding such a coin might have felt. How the simple need to buy and sell became a transaction imbued with the weight of religious and secular power. The coin is a testament to the enduring impact of institutional power on our daily lives.