Ferdinand Filips, hertog van Saksen-Coburg-Gotha tot erelid van de Societe Royale de Numismatique de Belgique gekozen 1878

This is a bronze medal, created anonymously, commemorating Ferdinand Filips, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, being chosen as an honorary member of the Royal Numismatic Society of Belgium. Medals like this were often produced to mark significant events or to honor individuals, reflecting the values and priorities of the elite. In this case, the medal celebrates nobility and intellectual pursuits. The Royal Numismatic Society of Belgium was a learned society founded in 1841 dedicated to the study of coinage and medals. It provided a venue for the upper class to gather and discuss numismatics. The medal also tells us something about how societies elevate certain individuals through official recognition and documentation. It prompts reflection on how we memorialize figures of power, and how these practices shape our understanding of history and identity.