Lodewijk XIV, koning van Frankrijk, rekenpenning geslagen op last van de Staten van Artois 1705

Editor: Today we're looking at a bronze coin from 1705. It's called "Lodewijk XIV, koning van Frankrijk, rekenpenning geslagen op last van de Staten van Artois", and it was commissioned by the States of Artois. It feels incredibly dense with symbolism. I wonder, what stories do you think it whispers about power, wealth, and history? Curator: Ah, this piece. It’s not just bronze, you know, it’s a solidified argument! Look closely—the regal portrait against the complex heraldry on the reverse. What do you notice about the condition? Worn, wouldn’t you say? Each imperfection a tiny, silent witness. Editor: Yes, it's definitely showing its age! Is that why the coin looks somewhat defaced, and were these coins widely circulated? Curator: Precisely. That's character, my dear! But circulation? Perhaps not in the way you'd expect. These weren’t meant for daily transactions. Think of it as propaganda… a weighty pronouncement in portable form, more akin to a commemorative medal, almost. Do you get a sense of the power dynamic at play between Louis XIV and Artois? Editor: Definitely. Artois commissioning a coin of Louis XIV… sounds like a complicated relationship of power, maybe some resistance masked by subservience? Curator: Exactly! Consider the perspective – Artois footing the bill to make this object! This medal subtly declares that, ‘Yes, you rule, but we paid for the declaration itself.’ I’d say a quiet jab served cold after three centuries. Now, who gets the last laugh? Editor: Wow, I had never thought about that angle of power! Seeing the coin this way definitely gave me new appreciation. Curator: As it has for me too. Let’s keep digging for that laughter; these artworks are only made richer by our dialogues.