Overlijden van Johannes Boskoop, predikant te de Ketel, Rijswijk, Utrecht en Amsterdam 1772

This silver medal commemorating the death of Johannes Boskoop was made in the Netherlands in 1772. On one side, we see a profile portrait of Boskoop himself, along with his name and vocation. On the other, an inscription details his birth, his service as a preacher in various Dutch locales, and finally, his death. In the Dutch Republic of the 18th century, the church was a central institution in the social life of communities. As such, the death of a prominent preacher like Boskoop would have been a significant event. It was common to commemorate such events through the production of medals like this one, often commissioned by family or community members. These items circulated amongst the community, preserving the memory of the deceased and solidifying social bonds. Historical records, church archives, and genealogical databases, combined with careful material analysis of the medal itself, allow us to understand the complex interplay of faith, community, and remembrance in 18th century Netherlands.