Filips II, koning van Spanje, rekenpenning van de rekenkamer van Gelderland te Arnhem 1563

Editor: Here we have a 1563 metal 'rekenpenning,' or reckoning penny, of Philip II, King of Spain. It was used by the treasury of Gelderland in Arnhem. The wear and tear is so apparent. What speaks to you about this piece? Curator: The materiality is what interests me most here. Look at the conditions of production that were needed to make such an object: The mining, smelting, and skilled labor involved in creating this tiny object speak volumes about the social structures and economic practices of the time. Do you see how the surface of the coin holds within it the weight of an empire’s bureaucratic processes? Editor: That's fascinating. It’s easy to overlook the labour that goes into something so small. Curator: Exactly. And beyond just the initial creation, consider how it was used. This coin was a tool of the treasury, an instrument for counting and calculating. Each mark and symbol reflects the intricate dance between resources, power, and representation. In other words, its very physicality betrays both value and purpose. Editor: So the "wear and tear" that I noticed…it speaks to the labour? Curator: Absolutely. Each imperfection suggests usage and the social history imprinted in its handling: a residue from interactions, transactions, even debates that occurred concerning state finances. Editor: I’ve definitely gained a new appreciation for it! It makes you think about what labor went into every aspect of its making. Curator: Indeed. By considering production and daily functions you see how an object embodies and facilitates social operations in plain sight.