De steunpenning 1914 Possibly 1915

This ‘Steunpenning 1914’ or Support Penny, was made in 1914 by Johannes Cornelis Wienecke. It is made of tin. Looking closely, it's amazing how much detail Wienecke packed into something so small! The surface is so textured. The lion rampant with the sword, the palm fronds, there’s so much symbolism crammed in there. I’m drawn to the way the artist created this sense of depth and relief. It’s kind of a miracle what he could do. It reminds me of some of the early modernists like Medardo Rosso, who were also interested in how sculpture could capture a sense of movement and ephemerality. Ultimately, the coin reminds us that art isn’t just about aesthetics, it’s about communication, memory, and the stories we tell ourselves about who we are.