Tweehonderdjarige herdenking van de oprichting van de Hoogeschool te Leiden 1775 1775

This silver medal commemorating the bicentennial of Leiden University in 1775 was crafted by Theodorus Everardus van Berckel, a few years after his death. Medals like this served a critical purpose for institutions seeking to burnish their public image. On one side, we see an allegorical figure of Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom, wearing a helmet and accompanied by an owl, symbols of knowledge and vigilance. The inscription "Academia Lugduno Batava" identifies the celebrated Dutch academy. The other side features an inscription surrounded by a wreath, honoring Hieronymus David Gaubius, the university's rector at the time. In the context of the Dutch Republic, where civic identity and scholarly achievement were highly valued, this medal reinforces Leiden University's role as a pillar of intellectual life and national pride. To fully understand the medal's significance, we need to delve into the university's archives and historical records, investigating the social and political factors that shaped its bicentennial celebrations.