Karel V, Duits keizer, rekenpenning van het bureau van de keizer 1549

This copper alloy counting token, or "rekenpenning," was made for the office of Emperor Charles V. These tokens were used on a counting board, a portable device that served as an early calculator. The method of production involves die-striking, impressing the design into the metal. The copper alloy is relatively soft, so the tokens would have worn down with use. The design on this example shows a portrait of Charles V on one side, and the Habsburg coat of arms on the other. The images and inscriptions are directly linked to power and authority. The production of these tokens highlights the intersection of craft, technology, and early capitalism. While the materials are relatively base, the token represents significant economic activity. It’s a small object, but reflective of vast systems. Looking closely at its materiality, manufacture, and the culture of accounting it served reminds us that even the humblest objects have a story to tell.