Shilling, noodmunt van Jacobus II, koning van Engeland, uit september 1689 1689

Curator: Let's turn our attention to this "Shilling, noodmunt van Jacobus II, koning van Engeland, uit september 1689", which translates to "Shilling, emergency coin of James II, King of England, from September 1689." Editor: Its patinated surface and damaged texture gives it an intense sense of history. What a Baroque, high relief and dynamic design compressed on such a tiny, metal field. It's remarkable how they've managed the textures of the king’s wig. Curator: It is incredible, especially when one considers the socio-political climate surrounding its creation. This emergency coin, currently held in the Rijksmuseum, speaks to a specific moment of crisis during James II’s reign. We can see that James II’s portrait dominates one face, exhibiting Baroque portraiture conventions, and on the other, a crowned shield. The materials were quite poor in an emergency: it had only base metals available. Editor: The line and its arrangement are doing an immense amount of work to convey the illusion of detail. Consider the deliberate weight given to line engraving here— how much more could be communicated with color in this image? In other words, if the artist were dealing with metal plate as such instead of imagining a more realistic dimension on such medium, its reception could have been radically different. Curator: Indeed, the lack of precious metal reflects the urgency and instability of the time. It was minted during a period of political turmoil when James II was deposed in the Glorious Revolution. Editor: The details tell so much: The text serves as a kind of frame that orients the bust to one side, whereas on the other, the arms feel centralized and much more symmetric and stiff in contrast. Even this asymmetry indicates dynamism in representation. Curator: Absolutely. This object offers tangible insight into the monetary policies employed during crises and provides an interesting commentary on the relationship between a ruler, his image, and his power during a period of immense change. Editor: A powerful, functional object imbued with more narrative depth than its modest size would suggest. The subtle degradation, I suspect, could indicate much more. Curator: Agreed. It leaves one reflecting on how even everyday objects become powerful symbols in extraordinary circumstances.