Gunstige toestand van de zuidelijke Nederlanden, rekenpenning geslagen ter ere van Jerome Du Quesnoy, achtentwintigste intendant van de vaart van Brussel 1638

Editor: Here we have a bronze coin, a commemorative medal to be exact, created in 1638 in honor of Jerome Du Quesnoy, who was in charge of the Brussels canal. The craftsmanship is wonderful and I find myself wondering, what would people use this coin for? Curator: Consider it less as currency and more of a mass-produced signifier of power. Its materiality tells us about 17th century technologies, specifically, how metal can be molded into duplicated objects. Bronze isn't cheap. Its existence demonstrates surplus value in Dutch society from its production process right up to the pockets of people able to display such a medal. Editor: Oh, so it speaks to the resources available at that time and the purpose shifts away from mere economic exchange? Curator: Precisely! Note also how Du Quesnoy is remembered. Rather than simply noting his physical features, we see this focus on his social position—'intendant of the canal'. What does it tell us about a society that chooses to celebrate civil administration in this way? How did it benefit from the canal itself? Editor: It’s interesting to think about infrastructure, and how people benefited from those kind of projects and the need to immortalize the people responsible for it. Does that mean it served more as propaganda? Curator: In a sense, yes. Consider the mold making the production process, almost like a pre-industrial assembly line spitting out medals as reminders. It signifies a material system of imprinting and distribution, creating symbolic value by showcasing technical abilities. That speaks volumes about contemporary labor conditions and resource management! Editor: That makes so much sense, examining the materials themselves to understand labor and power. Thank you for expanding my understanding! Curator: My pleasure. I’m glad this coin could trigger thoughts beyond just visual representation for you today.