Vrede van Rijswijk, rekenpenning van Jean Baptiste de Leeuw, magistraat van de schatkist van Brussel 1697

This bronze medal commemorates the Peace of Rijswijk. The image shows powerful symbolism. Two clasped hands appear under a hat, set between olive branches, all emblems of concord. Below, a lion reclines, a traditional symbol of strength and sovereignty. The handshake is a motif spanning across antiquity, from Roman funerary art to medieval betrothal imagery. It signifies agreement, fidelity, and unity, a gesture loaded with psychological weight, suggesting trust and mutual respect. The Roman goddess Concordia appears in coins, carrying olive branches. These branches, symbols of peace and victory, stretch back to ancient Greece, adorning the victors of the Olympic Games. The lion can also be traced back to ancient times, with the lioness present in Egyptian art and mythology as the fierce protector goddess Sekhmet. This recurring motif reveals a cyclical progression, constantly resurfacing and evolving, adapting to new cultural contexts. These images tap into collective memory, resonating through cultural memory and human experience.