Plaatgeld van halve daler met Adolf Frederik, koning van Zweden 1752

This is ‘Plaatgeld van halve daler met Adolf Frederik, koning van Zweden’, a copper plate money created by an anonymous artist. This artwork is a relic of Sweden’s economic policy in the 18th century when the country adopted plate money as a means of payment. The idea was simple: the value of the money should be directly linked to the metal it contained. But this policy also reflects Sweden’s control of its copper mines in Dalarna. Stora Kopparberget was at the time one of the largest copper mines in Europe and a major contributor to the Swedish economy. The square shape and the sheer size of the plate money also reflect the state’s authority and control over its resources. The coins stamped on the plate further reinforce the idea of state-sanctioned currency. Historical research into the Swedish economy, mining industry, and monetary policy of the time can all shed light on the deeper significance of this artwork. This plate money serves as a tangible reminder of the complex interplay between economic policy, natural resources, and state power.