Werkhuis te Amsterdam, huismunt ter waarde van tien cent 1824 - 1837

Editor: Here we have a 'Werkhuis te Amsterdam, huismunt ter waarde van tien cent', or "Amsterdam Workshop, House Coin worth ten cents", dating from 1824-1837. It looks like a mixed-media piece, combining print and metalwork – a photograph, perhaps, of an engraving on a coin. What strikes me most is its texture; you can almost feel the age. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, it's fascinating how an object like this, seemingly simple, can speak volumes about societal structures. The imagery itself – the shield, the "XXX" which is the symbol of Amsterdam, the declared value – these are deliberate markers intended to project authority and stability. It’s fascinating to consider how even a token reflects civic identity. Editor: That's interesting. I hadn't thought about it in terms of civic identity. So, the symbols, like the Amsterdam coat of arms, were really about communicating a sense of trustworthiness? Curator: Precisely. Currency, even internal currency like this from the "Werkhuis" or workhouse, carries a lot of psychological weight. It represents value, yes, but also a system of exchange and obligation. The choice of these specific symbols reinforces belief in that system. What memories might this coin hold? What stories might it tell about those who used it? Editor: It definitely gives me a new perspective. Seeing it less as just an old coin and more as a symbol loaded with historical and cultural significance… I wonder, what became of the workhouse it came from? Curator: Indeed, its existence prompts such questions. Each element is like a word in a visual sentence, offering us a glimpse into the past. Thank you, this was illuminating. Editor: Yes, it certainly was, thank you! I will remember coins differently now!