Maximiliaan, aartshertog van Oostenrijk, en Maria, hertogin van Bourgondie, rekenpenning van het hertogdom Brabant 1478

This small coin commemorates the marriage between Maximiliaan, Archduke of Austria, and Maria, Duchess of Burgundy. The union between Maximillian and Maria took place in 1477, against a backdrop of political intrigue and dynastic ambition. Maria of Burgundy inherited a vast and prosperous territory, and as such, her marriage was of great political importance. By marrying Maria, Maximillian sought to secure control over her lands, which included territories in modern-day Belgium, the Netherlands, and France. On one side, the coin shows the coat of arms, while on the other, we see the royal couple in robes and crowns. What might it have been like to witness their union? This coin is a record of a moment in time. It allows us to consider how identities and territories have been bound together throughout history.