Kartonnen omhulsel voor een 18e-eeuwse zilveren dubbele stuiver (munthoes) c. 1780

Curator: Here, we have an intriguing piece from around 1780. It’s titled "Kartonnen omhulsel voor een 18e-eeuwse zilveren dubbele stuiver", meaning “Cardboard casing for an 18th-century silver double stiver.” This object is a printed paper coin holder originating from the province of Holland. Editor: It strikes me as quite humble, yet captivating. The simplicity of the brown cardboard contrasting with the promise of a silver coin peeking through its little window creates a real sense of longing and history. Curator: The frame provides a glimpse into the economic realities of the Dutch Golden Age. These double stivers circulated amongst provinces from 1670-1799, embodying a tangible unit of exchange. The printed text details how a skilled worker would earn two stivers per hour; revealing that daily needs such as rent, heat, clothes, and home were largely dependent on how those 'dubbeltjes' were being saved, managed or "omgedraaidt". Editor: Right. I'm drawn to the inscriptions themselves – like symbolic breadcrumbs. I see how they function as identifiers that establish provenance, purpose, value. The use of the crowned province shield seems key to reinforcing that notion of trade power during the Golden Age, which must carry immense cultural weight. Curator: Indeed. The casing signifies more than mere currency; it illuminates broader discussions around value, class, and social welfare. Considering the power structures and wealth accumulation inherent within colonialism—to truly explore this artwork involves asking deeper, intersectional questions. Who labored for these stivers? Who profited? Who bore the social costs? Editor: Precisely, and by decoding that intricate symbolism on what may be deemed ‘disposable’ packaging; it deepens its inherent connection and influence with the contemporary world at large – thereby echoing into modernity through each detail carefully chosen or overlooked through visual association. Curator: Absolutely, the artifact presents endless interpretive avenues. Editor: I now view that ‘humble casing’ more vividly – not just to a long lost guilder value but to stories far grander!