Reaal van achten, geslagen te Mexico, munt uit het wrak van de Oost-Indiëvaarder 't Vliegend Hart 1733

This silver coin, made in Mexico by Francisco de la Pena Flores, was recovered from the wreck of the Dutch East India ship, 't Vliegend Hart. This coin serves as a potent reminder of the Dutch colonial aspirations during the 18th century, and their global trade operations. Minted in Mexico, this 'Reaal van achten' speaks to the Spanish colonial influence and exploitation of silver resources in the Americas. Consider the hands that mined this silver, the Indigenous populations forced into labor, and the African slaves brought to replace them, all under the yoke of colonial power. The coin’s journey across the ocean, ending in a shipwreck, encapsulates the perils and ambitions of global trade. This piece is a chilling emblem of an era defined by conquest, resource extraction, and the human cost of empire-building. It invites us to reflect on the intricate, often brutal, connections between different continents and cultures forged through trade and colonization.