Hollandse stuiver van Karel V, 1506-1555 1521 - 1529

This stuiver was made out of silver sometime between 1506 and 1555 in the Netherlands, during the reign of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain. As a form of currency, this coin played a vital role in the economic exchanges of the time. The imagery on the coin, including the Habsburg coat of arms, visually asserts the ruler's authority. This was a period marked by significant social and political upheaval, including the rise of Protestantism and challenges to established power structures. The choice to depict heraldic symbols reflects the conservative impulse to reinforce traditional hierarchies. To fully understand this coin, we need to delve into numismatic archives, dynastic histories, and economic records. Only then can we appreciate how this stuiver represents the intersection of art, power, and everyday life in the 16th-century Netherlands.