Inname van de schans St. Andries door de troepen van Maurits, graaf van Nassau 1600

This anonymous medal commemorates the Capture of the Fort St. Andrew by the troops of Maurice, Count of Nassau. Consider the stark geometry of the design: on one side a star-shaped fortress dominates, framed by a circular inscription, while on the other, the sun radiates over a seascape, boats with soldiers meticulously rendered. The composition is rigidly structured. These shapes aren't just decorative; they function as signs. The fortress symbolizes military power and strategic control. The sun signifies a new dawn, enlightenment, or divine favor shining upon the victors. Coins like these functioned as propaganda, aiming to solidify the legitimacy and valor of military campaigns through symbolic representation. Its circular format, inscriptions, and imagery work together to encode and disseminate a particular narrative. It is a structured system of signs meant to influence perceptions of power and historical events.