Utrechtse drie gulden, 1793 1793

Editor: So, this is a Utrechtse drie gulden from 1793. It seems to be made of metal and is in the style of a portrait. The condition is quite good! It feels heavy with symbolism, yet somewhat austere. What jumps out at you? Curator: The enduring iconography, of course. What emotional connections might someone in 1793 have had to the crowned shield and the lion? Think of heraldry, tradition, inherited power. That lion isn't just a beast; it's a shorthand for courage, nobility, and dominion, going back centuries. Does the sword through the bundle of arrows say anything to you? Editor: Possibly justice or power? Perhaps even the unification of disparate entities, all bound together? It also makes me wonder, how aware were the people handling this coin of the images it carried? Curator: Precisely! Consider this "three gulden" less as mere currency and more as a pocket-sized emblem of collective identity. The images become almost primal imprints, subtly reinforcing a shared narrative with every transaction. They become more relevant when people touch them. I find myself wondering if this item should be categorised as "artwork" or "artifact", perhaps leaning more toward the latter, considering what these small metal coins communicated in medieval times! Editor: That’s fascinating, framing it as a tangible, shared story. It gives this object a lot more weight. I'll definitely view currency differently now! Curator: Indeed! And this is only the beginning when we try to look into objects that survived centuries and are in museums for a reason!