Stuiver van Groningen en de Ommelanden, 1765 1765

This Stuiver coin, made in Groningen en de Ommelanden in 1765, is a small, humble object that silently speaks volumes about the economic and social life of its time. Consider the late 18th century – a period defined by burgeoning global trade, colonial expansion, and the slow burn of revolutionary ideas. This coin, likely exchanged in daily transactions, embodies the complex web of power relations inherent in monetary systems. Who had access to such currency, and who was excluded? What did it mean to hold this coin, or to lack it, within a society sharply stratified by class and gender? The simple design and wear of the coin reminds us of the labor and lives that underpinned its value. Reflect on the historical forces that shaped this object and the lives it touched. It serves as a poignant reminder of the intricate connections between money, power, and identity.