Vroedschapspenning van de stad Haarlem 1688

This is a silver council medal from Haarlem, made by Daniel Drappentier, likely in the late 17th or early 18th century. The material, silver, is crucial here. Unlike painting or sculpture, coinage always implies value and the potency of economic exchange. The medal’s imagery, of course, reinforces this point. Note the ship at the center, surely a reference to the maritime trade that fueled Haarlem’s prosperity. The city’s coat-of-arms is also prominent, flanked by halberds which were both a weapon and a symbol of civic authority. Consider, too, the labor involved in producing this object. From mining and refining the silver, to the skilled hand of the die-cutter who created the mold, a whole network of workers contributed. The medal is a small object, but it speaks volumes about the larger world of production. So next time you see a coin or medal, remember that it represents far more than just monetary value, it is a testament to skill, labor and the material conditions of its time.