Plak uit Holland van Willem V, 1345-1389 1376 - 1378

This coin, “Plak uit Holland van Willem V”, was made between 1345 and 1389 during the reign of Willem V van Holland. Its circular form and compact size invite a tactile intimacy, while the metallic surface, aged and worn, speaks to its endurance through time. Observe the central heraldic imagery framed by a ring of text. The intricate details are rendered through the dense interplay of relief, where lines and shapes emerge from the surface. The composition is structured around principles of symmetry and balance, reinforcing its intended message of stability and order. The iconography functions as a set of signs, each element encoding specific meanings related to power, lineage, and territorial claim. As a material object circulating within a medieval economy, this coin did more than simply represent value, it actively participated in constructing and reinforcing social structures. The very act of holding this coin connects us to the complex networks of exchange and power dynamics that shaped the world of its creation.