Filips II en Isabella, koning en koningin van Spanje 1560

This small copper coin immortalizes the dual reign of Filips II and Isabella, king and queen of Spain, made by an anonymous artist. Think about this coin as an emblem of power, carefully crafted to broadcast the authority of the Spanish monarchy. Filips II, a devout Catholic, ruled during a period marked by religious conflict and colonial expansion, his reign defined by the brutal suppression of Protestantism and the exploitation of resources in the Americas. Isabella, as his wife, was part of this legacy, her image on the coin legitimizing their joint rule. Consider how gender and power are interwoven here. Isabella's inclusion acknowledges her status, yet the coin primarily celebrates the King, a reflection of the patriarchal structures of the time. The very act of minting this coin was an assertion of dominance, a symbol of economic and political control. What stories does this coin carry? How does it shape our understanding of the past?