Schutterij van Utrecht, penning die schutters recht gaf op een kan wijn 1661

This silver coin, granting its holder a right to a jug of wine, was designed by Roelof van Cuylenburch. The circular format presents two sides, each a complex assemblage of symbols. Observe the composition: on one side, a heraldic shield is flanked by lions, topped with a crown, and inscribed with text. The arrangement is symmetrical, suggesting order and authority. The opposite side features a jumble of military objects, crossed and overlapping, above what appears to be a cluster of grapes, and the year 1661. The texture is rich, each element carefully detailed despite the coin’s small size. The imagery mixes civic pride with earthly reward, the structured heraldry contrasting the more chaotic arrangement of weapons and grapes. This coin is more than a simple token; it is a condensed symbol of power and privilege, reflecting the social structures of its time. The very form of the coin—small, dense, and circular—encapsulates a world of meaning within its circumscribed boundaries.