Overijsselse bezemstuiver, 1739 1739

This is an Overijsselse bezemstuiver, a coin made in 1739 by the Province of Overijssel, now part of the Netherlands. We can understand this coin as more than just a means of exchange, it is a political artifact. ‘Trans Isala Nia’, or ‘Overijssel’ written in Latin, and the year 1739 frame an image of a broom. The broom references the province’s role within the Dutch Republic. Overijssel, like other provinces, was expected to contribute to the union’s finances, symbolized here by the broom sweeping away debt. The coin thus participated in the complex power dynamics between the provinces and the central government. It served as a constant reminder of fiscal responsibility and regional identity. To fully understand the bezemstuiver, we need to delve into the economic and political history of the Dutch Republic. A good place to start would be consulting archives, period newspapers, and the records of the Dutch central bank. By situating this coin in its historical context, we understand how even the smallest objects can tell us stories about power, identity, and the social conditions of their time.