Overlijden van Simon Grynaeus, hervormer en hoogleraar in de theologie en wijsbegeerte 1725

This small medal was created by Jean Dassier, and its symbolism echoes through time. On one side, we see Simon Grynaeus, cast in profile, a reformer and professor, embodying the intellectual spirit of his age. Turn it over, and you see Latin inscriptions detailing Grynaeus's life. Such inscriptions are not mere text; they are a symbolic codification of memory, reminiscent of epitaphs and commemorative tablets seen throughout history. This act of memorializing echoes ancient Roman practices, where leaders were immortalized on coins, their legacies literally passed from hand to hand. Even today, we see this impulse in commemorative coins or medals, each serving as a miniature monument. There is a profound human need to preserve the memory of those who have shaped our world, ensuring that their influence continues to resonate. The desire for remembrance connects us, a timeless motif in the ongoing drama of human culture.