Zijdelakenkopersgilde van Vlissingen, gildepenning met no. 36 1694

This is a silver guild badge, created in 1694 in the Netherlands. It was made for the Silk Cloth Merchants’ Guild of Vlissingen. Guilds like this one were a central part of the economic and social structure of Dutch cities in the early modern period. The image on the coin gives us insight into how these guilds operated. On one side, three men inspect cloth. Above them, a Latin inscription translates to “Diligence brings wealth.” On the other side, a cornucopia of goods, with a crown above it, represents the wealth that the guild brought to the town. In many ways, guilds like the Silk Cloth Merchants’ Guild of Vlissingen were the engines of the Dutch Golden Age. Understanding this badge requires historical detective work. We can study guild records, economic data, and the biographies of guild members to understand its true significance. This badge reflects not only the mercantile success of the Dutch Republic but also the social and economic structures that made it possible.