Nederlandse dukaat, 1817 1817

Curator: Here we have a Dutch Ducat from 1817, part of the Rijksmuseum's collection. The profile featured on this piece is of Willem I, King of the Netherlands. Editor: Whoa. Tiny golden history right here. It’s strange how powerful something so small can feel. It has the serious energy of some long lost myth. Curator: Its scale underscores its intended purpose—facilitating trade and reflecting the Kingdom's power through its design. Its symbolism is carefully constructed, with the standing figure holding arrows. The motto inscribed references concord and strength. In this context, it serves to remind the newly formed United Kingdom of the Netherlands of its aspirations of growth. Editor: That figure is holding what looks like a fistful of… well, maybe arrows. At first I was wondering what someone with a fan was doing on money. A weapon makes much more sense. I like this touch, very intentional and I wonder about its resonances with contemporary anxieties and fears about resources. The color gives me pause. Is this shade what we imagine the color of hope is like now? It’s interesting to me. Curator: That resonates, especially given that coinage speaks to ideas of material exchange and societal values, reflecting deeply held cultural beliefs. It could be argued that Willem I used coinage as a cultural tool. This ducat might even be seen as propaganda; these symbols represent a desire for strength and growth during a pivotal point of nation building. Editor: You’re right. It feels charged, doesn’t it? Like holding a little sun of ambition and resilience. The inscription is mostly unreadable, adding a touch of mysterious timelessness to its declaration. I can get lost just staring at the image of it, so much contained within the gold. Curator: It serves as a window into a very particular moment in time and its anxieties but also to the continuing legacies and colonial realities associated with such displays of wealth. Thinking through it from today's perspective offers rich and deeply interesting material for critical thinking. Editor: Absolutely. It shows us how objects, no matter how small or functional, are woven into wider narratives, reminding us of history's ever present influence in the present day. It’s amazing to hold, even in digital format!