Afwijzing door de Staten-Generaal van de vredesvoorstellen van Ernst, aartshertog van Oostenrijk 1594

This cast silver coin at the Rijksmuseum was produced anonymously to commemorate the rejection of peace proposals by Ernst, Archduke of Austria. Notice how the circular form of the coin has been cleverly divided into two distinct visual fields. One side depicts a heraldic emblem, complete with a crowned shield displaying a lion above wavy lines. The other presents three armed figures, their postures suggesting a march forward, almost aggressively. These contrasting images are not merely decorative. They function as symbolic representations of power and resistance. The heraldic side alludes to established authority, while the figures suggest a dynamic opposition. The circular text acts as a frame, binding these opposing images together, yet the composition keeps them visually distinct, highlighting the tension between peace negotiations and the ongoing conflict. The coin's materiality also carries significance. Silver, as a precious metal, speaks to the value placed on these events, turning a simple coin into a potent political statement, a tangible expression of a complex historical moment.