Filips II, koning van Spanje en Maria I, koningin van Engeland, rekenpenning van de rekenkamer van Vlaanderen te Rijssel 1557

This copper coin was made by an anonymous artist for the Flemish chamber of rhetoric in Lille. It portrays Philip II, King of Spain, and Mary I, Queen of England. This commemorative coin gives a fascinating insight into the intricate web of political marriages and alliances of 16th-century Europe. Coins like these acted as powerful propaganda tools, and this one celebrates the marriage of Philip and Mary, a union designed to consolidate power and secure territories. The images of the monarchs, along with the heraldic symbols, reinforce the authority and legitimacy of their rule, and the iconography underlines the close ties between England and the Habsburg-controlled regions of Flanders. To understand the full significance of this coin, historians delve into archives, studying diplomatic correspondence, financial records, and other primary source materials. These sources help reveal the complex motivations and consequences of the royal marriage. This coin is not just a historical artifact, but a tangible reminder of the political and cultural forces that shaped early modern Europe.