Vertrek van de hertog van Alva uit de Nederlanden 1573

This silver coin commemorates the departure of the Duke of Alva from the Netherlands, though we don't know precisely when it was made. It is just one example of the many commemorative coins that were issued at this time. The imagery on the coin would have had a powerful political meaning. The figure of the Duke of Alva is depicted on one side. On the other side is the Dutch maiden, holding a sword and wearing a hat, seated in a garden enclosed by a fence. The hat and sword were symbols of liberty and justice. This imagery would have sent a clear signal to those who used the coin about the need to liberate the Netherlands from Spanish rule. As historians, we need to examine such visual codes, and study the socio-political context in which art is made, in order to fully understand its meaning. Research into the history of coin production and the political context of the time could tell us a great deal more about this artwork.