Terechtstelling van Elisabeth, prinses van Frankrijk, zuster van Lodewijk XVI 1794

This silver coin commemorating the execution of Elisabeth, sister of Louis XVI, was created by Daniel Friedrich Loos. The coin, produced in the late 18th or early 19th century, speaks volumes about the tumultuous period of the French Revolution. On one side, we see a profile of Elisabeth, an aristocratic woman executed during the Reign of Terror. The other side depicts a broken lily, a symbol of the French monarchy, being struck by lightning. Coins like this one circulated within specific social and political contexts, often serving as propaganda or expressions of solidarity. It’s fascinating to consider how the coin itself, as a portable and reproducible object, participated in the political discourse of its time. By studying such objects and delving into historical records, we can uncover the complex social and institutional forces that shaped their creation and circulation. This approach allows us to understand how art reflects, reinforces, or challenges the norms and values of its time.