Karel Augustus de Struensee, Deens staatsman 1796

This is a silver medal, approximately 4cm in diameter, crafted by Abraham Abramson, a prominent die-cutter of his time. It depicts Karel Augustus de Struensee, a Danish statesman, against a backdrop of late 18th-century European politics. Consider how this medal functioned within the political landscape of its time. Struensee, though influential, was also a controversial figure whose progressive reforms were met with resistance, leading to his execution. This medal, therefore, becomes a complex object – is it a celebration, a critique, or perhaps a lament? Turn the medal in your hand, notice how the light reflects off the figure of Mercury on the reverse side, the god of commerce, communication and transition. The medal becomes a symbol of cultural memory, inviting reflection on the narratives we construct around power, reform, and legacy. How does this piece challenge or reinforce the power structures of its time, and what does it tell us about who gets remembered and how?