Aansporing tot eensgezindheid in de strijd tegen de Spanjaarden, rekenpenning van de Staten van Brabant 1582

Curator: Here we have an object offering insights into a fraught period of history: a medal cast in 1582 known as "Aansporing tot eensgezindheid in de strijd tegen de Spanjaarden, rekenpenning van de Staten van Brabant." It's unsigned, so the artist is unknown. Editor: Oh, it's a call to arms, you say? From looking at the engravings on the face, I feel transported back, imagining its cool touch and clinking sound as a call to the uprising, like a whispered rumour gathering momentum. It’s incredibly tactile. Curator: Precisely. These "jetons," or reckoning counters, functioned both practically and symbolically. Produced in metal via engraving, these tokens served to perform calculations and circulated among administrators, solidifying nascent governance structures amidst conflict. The means of their production themselves reflect an economy preparing for conflict. Editor: Interesting, and also useful... a blend of art and industrial intention then! Given the state of the time, these images and craftsmanship probably bolstered morale as much as counting income for ammunition. And this wear and tear probably signals quite an extensive, practical purpose over artfulness? Curator: Perhaps. But the act of minting these medallions can be seen as an act of defiance. Mass production—in this case the distribution of coinage and related insignia—becomes an act of war. Editor: Absolutely. Everyday life is punctuated by quiet rebellions, all this on what feels like an innocent scale. Imagine all the back-alleyways where deals, disputes, and hopes must have been transferred along with them in candle-lit shadows... and perhaps also passed off to an envoy headed out for a furtive exchange in the thick of the night? That the piece now sits in this cabinet is nothing short of magic. Curator: Quite. The engraving, too, shows the symbolic aspirations of its patrons. The coats of arms displayed testify to their alliance. But to produce such elaborate iconography shows they believe their revolt worthy of being made and multiplied. Editor: As you say, beyond utility there's some intention behind making more than just one... making it portable, multipliable to gain awareness or show solidarity in such an elegantly compressed visual form. A tiny monument. Curator: A potent example of everyday items infused with propaganda and a tangible piece of social and political history. Editor: Agreed; its mundanity adds to its message, an invitation into collective hope from the clamour and chaos of revolt.