Vroedschapspenning van de stad 's-Hertogenbosch 1704

This is Theodorus Casparus van Berckel's 'Vroedschapspenning van de stad 's-Hertogenbosch', a silver coin with a diameter of 2.7cm. The coin’s structure presents two distinct sides, each densely packed with symbolic imagery. The circular form is not merely a neutral boundary; it actively frames and focuses our attention on the emblems of civic identity. One side features a crowned coat of arms, flanked by nude figures, all encircled by a Latin motto. The other side depicts a building, possibly the town hall, with an inscription arched above it. The building's orderly facade, divided into neat windows, contrasts with the organic, flowing lines of the figures and foliage on the other side. The semiotic system at play is evident in the calculated arrangement of symbols, each laden with cultural and political significance. The coin, as a medium, invites us to consider how power and identity are compressed and circulated within a material object. It is a discourse about value, authority, and the very fabric of society, captured in miniature.