Filips II, koning van Spanje, rekenpenning van de raad van Financiën 1595

This is a bronze reckoning penny of Philip II, King of Spain, made anonymously. The penny's circular form and low relief would have been achieved through die-striking, a process involving the careful engraving of designs into hardened steel dies. These dies were then used to impress the images onto the bronze blank through forceful impact. Look closely, and you can see the fine lines and details rendered in the bronze; testament to the engraver's skill. The portrait of Philip II on one side, and the coat of arms on the other, are not merely decorative. They reflect a time when currency was not just a medium of exchange, but also a powerful tool for disseminating political messages. The creation of these pennies would have involved a network of laborers, from the miners extracting the ore to the artisans crafting the dies and striking the coins. By considering the penny's material and the processes of its making, we gain insight into the economic and social dynamics of the era.