Neerslaan van de opstand te Gent, rekenpenning ter ere van Karel V, Duits keizer 1540

This is a small medal, made of gold, that commemorates Charles V’s suppression of the Ghent revolt. The revolt of Ghent took place in 1539, when the city refused to pay taxes to Charles V. The medal depicts Charles V on one side, and on the other three kneeling figures who represent the city of Ghent surrendering to him. The Latin inscription translates to ‘what can audacity do against the power of Caesar’. The design emphasizes Charles’s imperial power. Medals like this one were often distributed as propaganda to promote a ruler’s image and policies. The Rijksmuseum has a large collection of historical medals that scholars can use to research Dutch history. These medals offer insight into political events, social customs, and the artistic styles of different eras. Studying them reminds us that art never exists in a vacuum, but always reflects the power structures of its time.