Beggars’ Medal 1575 - 1600

This Beggars’ Medal, made of gold by an anonymous artist, embodies the political and religious turmoil of its time. Gold lends it an aura of preciousness, yet it was created for a group who were literally beggared: Dutch rebels against Spanish rule. Crafted through meticulous techniques of die-striking and engraving, the medal features a portrait, likely of William of Orange. The rebel symbol on the reverse shows a beggar’s wallet and two clasped hands, emblems of solidarity and resistance. The choice of gold for such a subversive symbol is striking. The medal speaks volumes about the complex relationship between wealth, power, and identity during the conflict. Wearing it was both a statement of defiance and an act of self-identification with a movement that challenged the established order. It reminds us that even the humblest materials, or the most precious, can become potent symbols when imbued with political meaning.