Gereformeerde Diakonie te Amsterdam, loodje dat behoeftige kerklidmaten bij uitdeling recht gaf op brood 1777

Editor: This is a metal token, almost like an ornate coin, dating back to 1777. It's titled "Gereformeerde Diakonie te Amsterdam, loodje dat behoeftige kerklidmaten bij uitdeling recht gaf op brood," made by Monogrammist CM. Looking at the imagery and the material, it feels rather somber, yet solid and enduring. What jumps out at you when you see it? Curator: What strikes me, looking at this humble lead token, is the story it whispers of quiet charity. It's fascinating how such a simple object could hold so much meaning – a physical key unlocking basic sustenance for Amsterdam's Reformed Church members in need. And I’m captivated by the contrasts. On one side, a classical figure – seated amidst the words 'Vergenoegd en Dankbaar' - satisfied and thankful. Editor: Interesting… almost an ideal. And the other side? Curator: Shifts to stark reality. "Gereformeerde Diaconie Brood"—Reformed Deaconry Bread— with symbolic representations of this support: draped blocks marked “DIA” which stand for diaconie, all over a coin featuring "1777". The language and design feel deliberately austere compared to the symbolic opulence of the other side. Editor: I see that tension, that juxtaposition now. The promise versus the practical act. Almost a Baroque sensibility in miniature. Curator: Exactly. Don’t you find yourself wondering about the individual stories connected to this little disc? The shame and hope, maybe the desperation, carried alongside each token? Editor: Absolutely! It’s powerful to think this small piece of metal represents an entire social safety net and carries the weight of so many untold stories. Curator: I'll certainly never look at spare change the same way again!