Lodewijk XVI, koning van Frankrijk, rekenpenning van de Extraordinaire des Guerres 1775

Nicolas Marie Gatteaux created this silver medal of Louis XVI, King of France, as a reckoning of the Extraordinary Wars. The visual language on this coin embodies the cultural and political climate of late 18th-century France. On one side, we see a profile of Louis XVI, referencing the long-standing tradition of monarchical portraiture. The other side depicts an abstract image relating to the extraordinary wars with the phrase 'Extraordinaire des Guerres 1777'. Given the historical context, one wonders what the artist’s intentions were. Is this a form of glorification or a subtle commentary on the financial strain caused by these wars? It could be considered progressive for its time, given the social and political tensions that would eventually culminate in the French Revolution. As historians, we look to such objects and their visual codes and cultural references to better understand the complex interplay between art, power, and society. Medals such as this one serve as historical documents which offer insights into the social conditions of the time.