Filips II, koning van Spanje, rekenpenning van de raad van Financiën 1563

Curator: Here we have a 1563 rekenpenning, or reckoning penny, depicting Filips II, King of Spain. This piece, whose maker is currently unknown, resides here at the Rijksmuseum. The material is metal, carefully carved. Editor: It strikes me as almost unsettlingly austere. The metal has aged, of course, but the portrait and scene on each face look so deliberately solemn. What statement does the choice of metal itself make about the work? Curator: Well, the choice of metal in objects like these served several purposes. The intrinsic value of the metal itself, even a base metal, conferred a certain status and permanence, reflecting the power and authority of the portrayed figure. This was also meant to ease accounting, making financial processes tangible and verifiable. Editor: And the act of "reckoning," of financial accountings, must have been a quite physical, labour-intensive undertaking back then. You had to be literate. You needed the physical coin. These economic processes would have been far from democratized, and definitely outside the reach of most people, certainly not afforded to the peasantry. Curator: Absolutely. The production itself also required considerable skill. Minting this kind of currency involved specialized knowledge, from die-making to striking, processes controlled by guilds or royal authorities. Examining these objects reminds us of the sheer amount of artisanal labor that went into early economic structures. And speaking of labor, notice the almost identical quality on each side, almost like a miniature sculpture with consistent detailing. Editor: I agree, and it gives us an artifact with layered symbolic weight. The act of portraying a monarch on coinage broadcasts a message of power. The financial policies that directly impacted society, policies made under his gaze...How does this currency impact the narratives surrounding colonialism and the consolidation of monarchical power during that period? How does this material history shape our contemporary perception? Curator: It raises valid and important questions. Looking at these pieces, one should always question the stories that monarchs have told. It also offers an opportunity to analyze and reassess. Editor: Precisely. Thank you for illuminating these vital contexts! Curator: My pleasure. This really highlighted how much history can be gleaned from even a seemingly small metal disc.