Overgave van Oostende en inname van Sluis 1604

This anonymous piece, "Overgave van Oostende en inname van Sluis" or "The Surrender of Ostend and Capture of Sluis", is a coin. Its circular form and metallic medium create a tactile experience, contrasting the images of sieges it bears. The composition on each side is structured around central emblems: the cityscape of Ostend and the heraldic symbol of Sluis, each framed by text. These visual and textual elements are arranged to convey a narrative of conquest and power. The use of line, though constrained by the coin's scale, delineates architectural forms and symbolic crests with remarkable clarity. Consider how the coin's circular shape contains and focuses the narrative. The act of holding it, feeling its weight, brings us into direct contact with a potent symbol of historical events. It invites us to question how such an object, small in size, can carry the weight of territorial struggle and political ambition. The coin is not merely currency; it is a mobile monument, continually re-inscribing the story of conquest and resistance.