Filips IV, koning van Spanje, rekenpenning geslagen op last van de raad van Financiën 1646

This is a silver medal of Philip IV, King of Spain, commissioned by the Council of Finance and struck in 1646. The eye is immediately drawn to the circular structure of the medal, which creates a sense of enclosure, focusing our attention on the intricate details within. The composition is divided into two distinct sides. On one side, we see a crowned coat of arms, symbolizing power and authority. The other side features a complex heraldic design with an eagle, surrounded by floral motifs, evoking a sense of natural abundance, perhaps suggesting a claim of prosperity under Philip IV's rule. The inscriptions in Latin form a complete circle around both sides, binding the imagery and text into a unified symbolic statement. The medal's design can be interpreted as a form of propaganda, using symbolic language to promote the king’s image and the council’s authority. This object, therefore, functions as a carefully constructed artifact, intended to convey specific messages about power, legitimacy, and prosperity.