Tweede eeuwfeest op het overleveren van de Augsburgse geloofsbelijdenis op de Rijksdag 1730

This silver medal was made by Martin Holtzhey to commemorate the second centenary of the presentation of the Augsburg Confession. The process of minting medals like this involved skilled die-cutting and the use of a screw press to ensure the design was sharply impressed. The material itself, silver, would have been carefully selected and refined. The medal’s design is dense with symbolism – portraits, allegorical figures, and inscriptions relating to the key event. The level of detail achieved speaks to the skill of the die cutter, who translated complex imagery into a miniature, reproducible form. Minting was an important industry in the 18th century, crucial for both commemorative and economic purposes. The labor and expertise involved were considerable, making each medal a testament to the prevailing culture. So, when you look at this medal, remember that it is not just a historical artifact, but a product of skilled craft, materials, and social context.