Maximiliaan I, Duits keizer 1505

This silver coin depicting Maximiliaan I was made at an unknown date, by an anonymous artist. The striking of coins is an ancient technology, one which literally stamps authority and value onto a material. The intrinsic value of silver as a precious metal is only part of the story; the real power of this object is the way that it makes a claim of legitimacy. Look closely and you'll see that this particular coin is not perfectly regular; coins like these were not made with high-precision machinery, but rather with a hand-operated die. This adds another layer of meaning; we are reminded of the human labor required to create even the smallest token of imperial power. When we consider this coin, therefore, we should not only think about the image it projects, but the system of making and exchange that it represents. It’s a potent reminder that objects always carry social and cultural significance, far beyond their apparent function.