Hollandse duit, 1763. Afslag in zilver 1763

Editor: This is a Dutch "duit" from 1763, a silver coin minted by the Province of Holland, now at the Rijksmuseum. Looking at it, I'm struck by the contrast between the rough texture of the lion and the smooth, almost polished surface of the coin itself. What aspects stand out to you? Curator: I immediately see this not as "fine art" but as a utilitarian object embedded within very specific production and distribution chains. Silver, extracted and processed, becomes this token. What controlled the quantity, determined its exchange rate, and who benefitted from its circulation? What was the labour involved? Editor: That's a great point. I was focused on the imagery, but I hadn't considered the whole system behind its creation. Do the images on the coin relate to those social and economic systems at all? Curator: Absolutely. The lion is not merely decorative, nor is 'Hollandia.' The symbolism relates directly to power, trade, and regional identity, which of course are rooted in material realities. Think about how the coin would function – in whose hands, for what purchases? Editor: So, instead of seeing a lion and text, we should analyze the whole picture, its minting process and impact? Curator: Exactly. Consider, too, how the 'medieval' label complicates the picture. It evokes older craft traditions, even as it's clearly an object made for increasingly complex capitalist markets. This coin wasn't handmade in the same way a medieval manuscript was, correct? Editor: That's true, the 'medieval' tag almost romanticizes the context when really, it's a part of growing systems of production. Thank you for your insights, I had never thought to apply the lens of material conditions to coinage like this. Curator: My pleasure! Thinking about art as the product of labor and material transformation provides a new and insightful way to look at history.