Overijsselse duit, 1769 1769

This is a copper Overijsselse duit, minted in 1769 by the province of Overijssel, now part of the Netherlands. As a form of currency, this coin embodies the economic structures of the Dutch Republic during a period of relative stability. The coin circulated within a society deeply stratified by class, where wealth and power were concentrated in the hands of merchants and regents. The imagery on the coin—likely a provincial coat of arms—would have reinforced regional identity and the authority of the Overijssel government. The very existence of provincial coinage speaks to the fragmented political landscape of the Dutch Republic, a federation of semi-autonomous regions. A study of such coins helps us understand the intricacies of Dutch political and economic history. Numismatic collections, archival records, and period economic studies offer a wealth of information. Through this, we can comprehend the function and complex social dynamics of this small copper coin.