Gelderse korte van Philips II, 1555-1598 1555 - 1598

Editor: We're looking at a 'Gelderse korte van Philips II', a coin from between 1555 and 1598, currently housed at the Rijksmuseum. It's striking how worn the metal is; the details are barely visible. How should we interpret this purely from its form? Curator: Note first its planchet – a rough, uneven circle of base metal. The images and text impressed on each side display only partially: the design is constrained by the ungainly form of the metal. The incuse images evidence a primitive understanding of relief: notice how little volume and dimension are expressed through the simple stamped carving. Editor: So the imperfection *is* the piece, in a way. Do the engravings then, offer a balance to that crude form? Curator: Let us note how the artist has arranged the heraldic designs and the text across the face of the coin. Consider how this text is divorced from meaning through its damage and small scale; consider also how the heraldry speaks to the identity and intention behind this diminutive, debased item. Ask yourself: is this a portrait of power, or of decline? Editor: I never would have looked at a coin this way! Curator: These considerations can inform our understanding of far grander pieces. This item teaches us the value of critical distance when dealing with images, however familiar they seem. What seems like a mundane object becomes an excellent study in representational conventions.