Philibert Baudot, lid van de rekenkamer te Dijon 1730

This coin, a medal crafted in 1730, depicts Philibert Baudot, a member of the Chamber of Accounts in Dijon, and presents a fascinating array of heraldic symbols. Notice the crowned shield, framed by laurel branches. The shield, a marker of identity and lineage, speaks of heritage, while the crown denotes authority and status. This juxtaposition of symbols—the personal and the institutional—provides a glimpse into the subject's position in society. The laurel, a symbol of victory and honor since ancient times, brings to mind its appearance in Roman triumphs, adorning emperors and heroes. We can see a continuity of visual language across centuries. These symbols do not exist in isolation; rather, they are interconnected through a web of cultural memory, reappearing in different contexts, each time subtly altered by the present. The collective consciousness of the time informs our interpretation and lends a particular emotional weight to the symbols in the eye of the beholder.