Zwolse snaphaanschelling, 1598 1598

This is a silver Zwolse snaphaanschelling, made in 1598 by the city of Zwolle. On one side we can see the image of Saint Michael slaying a dragon. What does that imply about the social and political ideals of the people in the area where it was produced? The imagery clearly draws on religious narratives. But more generally, in a time of political instability, the image suggests that good will triumph over evil. How does the image create meaning through those associations? To understand this coin better, the historian would need to look at the context in which it was produced. What was the relationship between Zwolle and other political entities in the region at this time? How did Zwolle understand its own religious identity? What were its economic relationships with the wider world? The meaning of art is always contingent on social and institutional context.