Verenigde Belgische Staten 1790

This coin, designed by Theodorus Victor van Berckel, is made of silver and has a diameter of 3 centimeters. Think about how this coin would have been made. The silver, extracted through mining and refinement processes, would have been melted down. The design was carefully engraved into dies, which were then used to stamp the image onto the metal. On one side is a lion, symbol of the region, and on the other two hands clasped under radiating light. These images and Latin motto served a propaganda function for the newly declared republic. Coins such as this one blur the lines between art, craft, and industry. While each coin is identical to the next, they are the product of artisanal skill, as the dies must have been produced by a highly skilled hand. It prompts us to consider how the mass production of such an object is tied to wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption. By understanding its materials, making, and context, we can see how it challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.