Hollandse provinciale drie gulden, 1682 1682

This is a Hollandse provinciale drie gulden, made of silver in 1682 by the Province of Holland. A coin might seem like a simple object, but it carries significant cultural and political weight. On one side, you see the Dutch lion beneath a crown, emblems of sovereignty. Flip it, and there's a seated female figure, Hollandia, holding a spear and a hat. These aren't just decorative elements; they're visual codes, invoking the Dutch Republic's power and identity. Made during the Dutch Golden Age, this coin circulated within a society that was a major player in global trade and finance. In 1672, the Republic faced invasion by France, England and two German states. This coin tells a story of economic prosperity but also political tensions. As art historians, we look at these objects not just for their aesthetic value but as artifacts embedded in a web of social, economic, and political circumstances. Old archives, trade records, and political pamphlets can all help us understand the value and meaning of this coin.