Vredesonderhandelingen met Frankrijk 1709

This is a silver medal, crafted by Christian Wermuth, a German medalist and coin die engraver who lived between 1661 and 1739. The medal commemorates peace negotiations with France. On one side it depicts a landscape being destroyed and the words 'DECIPI TVNDEPATET', which translates to 'He is deceived until it appears'. The other side shows two hands shaking, flanked by figures emerging from clouds, and the words 'Ein Schein anders Gsuth meint', or 'A Schein thinks otherwise Gsuth'. Wermuth lived in an era shaped by religious conflict and shifting political alliances. Medals such as this one were often commissioned to commemorate or critique historical events. They offer a fascinating window into the political sentiments of the time. The contrasting imagery and text on each side suggests a deep skepticism about the true intentions of the French. The medal embodies a complex blend of hope and apprehension, reflecting the precarious nature of peace in a world shaped by power struggles.