Beggars’ Medal
Also titled Geuzenpenning
1574
- Medium
- silver (metal)
- Classification
- beggar's medal
- Dimensions
- length 3.5 cm x width 3.1 cm x width 2.7 cm x weight 11.27 g
- Museum
- Rijksmuseum
- Credit line
- Gift of J.M. van Gelder-Nijhoff
- Rights
- Public Domain Mark, as the museum states it.
- Who can see it
- Tweens profiles and older: its subjects are known and suit older children. How works are placed
About this work
‘Rather Turkish than popish.’ That is the message of this medal worn by the Beggars fighting in Dutch waters against Philip II’s ships. The enemy of your enemy is your friend, and the Islamic Turks are Spain’s fiercest foes. Their symbol is a crescent moon. The rebels are thus demonstrating their resolve: anything is better than submission to the Catholic Church and the Spanish king.
