Trekking van de loterij te Arnhem 1696

This silver medal, made by Jan Boskam, commemorates the Arnhem lottery. The material itself speaks to the occasion – a precious metal, reflecting the hope of financial gain. The medal's size immediately tells us something about its production. It’s small, so it was likely struck using dies. The design, crisp and precise, required the expertise of a skilled die cutter. This was not simply a practical object, but a carefully considered product of skilled labor. The imagery on the medal is also revealing. One side depicts a seated figure, likely a personification of fortune, while the other shows a winged figure showering people with coins. The lottery, a game of chance, is here given a veneer of respectability, even divine blessing. This highlights the complex relationship between chance, labor, and capital in early modern society, one we still grapple with today. So, next time you see a medal or coin, remember that it's not just money; it's a miniature sculpture, embodying social and cultural values.