Smidsgilde van Middelburg, penning nummer 73 1690

This is the "Smidsgilde van Middelburg, penning nummer 73", made by Willem du Pre, likely sometime around 1690. This coin presents us with a circular composition dominated by symbolic imagery and text. The muted, metallic tones create a somber and historical atmosphere. The circular arrangement, with text enveloping the coin's edge, immediately draws the eye around its perimeter, inviting a close inspection of the symbols it contains. At its heart lies a hammer, crossed by other objects. These symbols, rendered in a hard, engraved style, suggest themes of labour and craft. We can see elements which denote both the skill and trade the coin depicts, as well as its historical moment. The symmetry of the design, with the central symbols balanced above and below by dates, and the anchor on the right, lends a sense of order and stability to this guild marker. Consider how the artist balances representation and meaning through form and structure. The symbols give form to the values, status and identity that the guild represents.