Willem II, hertog van Gulik en Kleef 1554

This is a small, anonymous coin depicting Willem II, Duke of Gulik and Kleef. Its circular form, now slightly fractured, immediately suggests its function as a medium of exchange and a marker of value. The coin's imagery is divided into two distinct sides, each bearing complex symbolic representations. One side features the coat of arms of the Duke, a heraldic design with intricate scrollwork, topped by what appears to be a stylized bird or crest. The opposite side presents a quartered diamond shape. The composition and arrangement of these elements are not arbitrary; they are structured according to semiotic codes that would have been readily understood within the cultural context of its time. As an artifact, this coin reflects the intersection of economic, political, and symbolic systems in the early modern period. The damaged edges serve as a reminder that the meaning of an artwork is not fixed but rather is continually reshaped by time, use, and interpretation.