Halve plak van de Drie Steden 1534 - 1579

This is a small coin of unknown date, titled "Halve plak van de Drie Steden," and created by an artist or collective known as Drie Steden, which translates to "Three Cities." This coin embodies the economic and political identities of its time. Its modest size belies its significance, representing the collaborative spirit of three cities. The imagery and inscription are not merely decorative; they are assertions of power, trade, and civic identity. The weight of 0.46 grams may seem insignificant, but consider what it could purchase and the hands it passed through—each transaction a small act of economic and social exchange. What did it mean for these cities to come together? What power dynamics were at play? How did the average person relate to this object of both commerce and civic pride? The coin is a historical record of how identities are constructed and exchanged.