Munt met het portret van Simon August van Lippe 1758 - 1818

This print, made by Matthias Gottfried Eichler, depicts a coin portraying Simon August van Lippe. Consider what is required to make a coin: first, the mining of metal. Next, the smelting and refining, forming it into ingots. Then skilled die cutters engrave a positive image into steel. These are hardened, and then used to strike a negative impression into softer working dies. Finally, the coin is struck. All that labor, just for a token of exchange, or in this case, status. The lines of the engraving are remarkably crisp, capturing the reflective quality of the metal. The work involved in the production process imbues it with social and cultural significance, beyond its monetary value. We can think of it as a relic of the time, indicative of the ruler’s authority and the labor of the mint workers who produced it. Appreciating the artistry and labor involved challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.