Zakkendragersgilde, geslagen over rekenpenning van Filips IV, koning van Spanje, geslagen op last van de Staten van Brabant 1626 - 1738

This is a coin or 'rekenpenning' made to commission by the States of Brabant, which was a Dutch region under the rule of the Spanish King Philip IV. We can see the insignia of the Zakkendragersgilde, or the Sack Carriers Guild, on the face of the coin. Guilds of this kind played an important role in the economy and social life. They regulated labor, ensured quality, and provided a network of support for their members, who were almost exclusively men. The image of a man carrying a heavy sack is a tribute to their labour. Consider the weight of the sack, and the social weight carried by the men in this guild. It represents a society built on commerce and labor, but also one defined by strict hierarchies. The coin embodies the weight of labor and the realities of the time.