Duit van de stad Utrecht, 1753 1753

This small copper coin was made in 1753 for use in the city of Utrecht. Coins such as this tell us a lot about institutional history. In the Dutch Republic of the eighteenth century, each of the seven provinces had the right to mint their own money. Even individual cities like Utrecht could mint coins. But what was the purpose of this local currency? Well, we might think about the ways that cities functioned almost like small countries at this time. Issuing coinage was one way to display civic pride and independence. To understand coins like this, it can be useful to look at city archives, guild records, and other forms of local documentation. This helps us understand the social conditions that gave rise to this artwork. The existence of this coin is a potent reminder of the fragmented political landscape of the Dutch Republic. It illustrates a tension between local autonomy and national unity.