Scudo, Alexander Farnese, hertog van Parma herstelt de rust in het bisdom Keulen 1590

This small silver coin commemorates Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma, restoring peace to the Bishopric of Cologne. Made using techniques of die-striking, the coin’s surfaces reveal a wealth of detail. Consider the crispness of Farnese’s portrait, and the allegorical figure on the reverse – standing for restored peace – and the inscriptions around the coin’s perimeter. The process involved skilled die cutters, who would have painstakingly engraved the designs in steel, and the press operators who physically struck the coins. While seemingly simple, coin production was a complex, labor-intensive process, a nexus of artistry, technology, and economic power. The coin’s small size belies its significance, reflecting not only financial exchange, but also political messaging. Even an object as seemingly humble as this coin can open a window onto broader issues of class, labor, and the social context of its making.