Reckheimse duit van Ferdinand van Aspremont-Lynden (1636-1665) 1636 - 1665

This is a Reckheimse duit of Ferdinand van Aspremont-Lynden, made by the heer van Reckheim, its diameter is 2.0 cm, and its weight is 1.46 grams. Observe how this small coin embodies large concepts. The circular form, a symbol of continuity and totality, encloses a heraldic image, a semiotic system denoting power and lineage. The central motif, though worn, features a complex arrangement of symbols, perhaps a coat of arms, that would have instantly communicated status and authority to contemporaries. The coin’s materiality is equally significant. The metal, likely a base alloy, speaks to the economic realities of the time, while the wear and tear suggest its circulation and use in everyday transactions. Consider how such an object, seemingly modest, operates as a nexus of social, economic, and political meanings. Its form and substance are not merely decorative but function as a language, encoding and transmitting information about its owner and the world it inhabited. It's a reminder that even the smallest objects can carry immense cultural weight, inviting us to decode their hidden messages.