Vroedschapspenning van de stad 's-Hertogenbosch 1706

This is the Vroedschapspenning van de stad 's-Hertogenbosch, a coin created by Theodorus Casparus van Berckel sometime between 1680 and 1734. These coins were often commissioned to commemorate membership of the city council. The coin presents two sides of power and identity in the early 18th century Netherlands. One side depicts the city of ‘s-Hertogenbosch itself, a testament to civic pride and place. The other side features allegorical figures representing justice and abundance. Justice holds her scales, and Abundance presents a cornucopia, symbols of the values the city council hoped to embody. The Latin inscription, "Vincat Amor Silvae," translates to "Let love of the forest conquer." What does it mean to prioritize the natural world? What civic values did the city hope to instill? Consider what it means to love a forest. Is this love, or something else? This coin prompts us to think about the relationship between a city, its rulers, and the values they promote through symbolic objects. It reflects the era's complex relationship with governance, nature, and the projection of civic identity.