Neerslaan van de Fronde, rekenpenning geslagen ter ere van Lodewijk XIV, koning van Frankrijk 1654

This small metal coin was created anonymously to celebrate Louis XIV, King of France. It's a 'rekenpenning', or counting token. The coin’s images were die-struck, a relatively efficient process involving hardened metal stamps. This technique speaks to the increasing industrialization of the 17th century, extending even to objects like this, intended to project the power of the monarchy. We see Louis' profile on one side, and an allegorical image of the defeated Fronde rebellion on the other. Consider the labor involved: from mining the metal, to engraving the dies, to the actual striking of the coins. Each stage represents human effort, all directed toward reinforcing the King’s authority. The very materiality of the coin, its weight and metallic gleam, adds to the sense of solidity that Louis wished to project. By attending to these details of material and making, we can appreciate how even a small object like this one participates in the larger political and economic systems of its time. This approach allows us to look beyond traditional art history, and consider the wider context in which objects are created and consumed.