Vrije hertogdom Brabant 1584

This silver coin, titled 'Vrije Hertogdom Brabant', was created by Jacques Jonghelinck around the year 1584. The coin’s design immediately captures the eye with its meticulously engraved details and compact circular form. The composition of the coin is structured around heraldic symbols. On one side, a crowned lion dominates, a symbol of power and authority. The inscription that surrounds the image serves as a frame, reinforcing its symbolic function. The reverse side presents a similar heraldic display, again featuring a lion, this time seated and framed within an architectural structure, suggesting stability and governance. The repetitive use of the lion is no accident. It underscores the coin's purpose as an emblem of sovereignty. Coins like these acted as a form of propaganda, communicating messages of power. Here the formal design elements combine to create a potent symbol of authority, reflecting the complex interplay between art, politics, and identity in the 16th century.