Filips, erfprins van Spanje en Maria I, koningin van Engeland 1555

This small silver coin, made in 1555 by an anonymous artist, commemorates the marriage between Filips, the heir to the Spanish throne, and Mary I, Queen of England. The material itself is key to its meaning. Silver has always been associated with wealth and power. But beyond that, the very act of minting a coin is about standardizing value and facilitating trade. In other words, it's about solidifying an economic system. Coins like these were struck using dies, negative forms carved in hardened steel. This was skilled work, requiring not just artistic ability, but also a deep understanding of metallurgy. The resulting objects would then be widely circulated, carrying their message – in this case, a political alliance – into every corner of the realm. So, while this coin may seem like a humble object, it’s actually a powerful testament to the way that materials, making, and economics are always intertwined. It reminds us that even the smallest objects can carry huge significance.