Inhuldiging van Francois-Hercule, hertog van Anjou, als graaf van Vlaanderen te Gent 1582

This small copper coin commemorates the inauguration of François-Hercule, Duke of Anjou, as Count of Flanders in Ghent. Its circular form, though slightly irregular due to its age, presents a study in the interplay of relief and recession. The surfaces are divided into fields of representation: one side bears the profile of the Duke, encircled by an inscription, while the other features a complex heraldic shield. The relief is shallow, yet it effectively uses the contrast of light and shadow to articulate form. The coin's structure reflects the symbolic order of its time, where the representation of power was meticulously coded. The heraldic shield, a semiotic device in itself, communicates lineage, authority, and territorial claims. The circular shape, unbroken, could be interpreted as a symbol of unity and completeness. However, the coin's worn condition destabilizes any fixed meaning, reminding us that history is always subject to erosion and reinterpretation.