Inname van Den Briel door de watergeuzen en het weigeren van de tiende penning Possibly 1572 - 1574

This silver medal commemorates the capture of Den Briel by the Watergeuzen. Note on one side the stern visage of the Duke of Alba, whose policies sparked the Dutch Revolt, and on the other, a symbolic tableau. Here, the sword represents defiance, piercing through a cluster of coins. The coins signify the "tenth penny" tax, a levy so despised that its rejection became a rallying cry for the rebellion. The sword, a primal symbol of power, is here inverted, suggesting a challenge to established authority. It's an act of inversion that echoes through history, from ancient rituals to modern protests, where symbols are weaponized to challenge the status quo. Consider the emotional weight of this image: a people rising against oppression, their collective memory of injustice fueling a desperate, yet determined, act of rebellion. This medal is not merely a historical artifact; it's a potent reminder of how symbols can ignite the flames of resistance and shape the course of history. The image, though small, reverberates with profound psychological and cultural echoes.