Maximiliaan II Emanuel, keurvorst van Beieren, ingehuldigd als hertog van Luxemburg en graaf van Chiny 1712

This small silver coin portrays Maximiliaan II Emanuel, Elector of Bavaria, being inaugurated as Duke of Luxembourg and Count of Chiny. Coins, like this example, are not simply economic objects. They serve as vehicles for the circulation of power and ideology. Look closely at the way the image creates meaning through visual codes. On one side, we see Maximiliaan II Emanuel’s portrait, and on the other, an inscription detailing his titles. This coin, minted likely in the late 17th century, reflects the hierarchical social structures of Europe at the time. Political power was concentrated in the hands of monarchs and nobles, with succession often determined by birthright, which explains the emphasis on the Duke's titles. The coin also shows us the institutional history of the Duchy of Luxembourg, which was passed between various European powers. To fully understand this coin, historical research into the political landscape of the time is essential. The meaning of art is contingent on its social and institutional context.