Geboorte van Filips, zoon van Karel V, rekenpenning geslagen op last van Margaretha van Oostenrijk, landvoogdes der Nederlanden 1527

This is a bronze medal commemorating the birth of Philip, son of Charles V, commissioned by Margaret of Austria, Governess of the Netherlands. It was made by an anonymous artist. The medal is not merely a celebration of new life, but a strategic instrument of dynastic power and political propaganda. It testifies to the importance of royal succession in shaping the future of the Habsburg empire. The imagery – the crowned double-headed eagle on one side, and the cornucopia on the other – speaks to themes of imperial authority, abundance, and divine favor. By commissioning this medal, Margaret of Austria, a powerful woman in her own right, underscores the role of women in negotiating and perpetuating male-dominated power structures. The medal offers a glimpse into the emotional life of the court, where joy and anticipation were intertwined with the calculated maneuvers of statecraft. It is a powerful reminder of the human stories behind the grand narratives of history.