Tweede eeuwfeest van de stichting van de Academie van Groningen, penning vervaardigd door de studenten uit onvrede over het feit dat er geen geld beschikbaar was voor een echte gedenkpenning 1814

This commemorative token was crafted by students in Groningen, likely around the year 1834, using modest materials like paper and ink. The stark contrast between the dark ink and the light paper immediately draws the eye to the intricate design. The square format, unusual for a commemorative piece, hints at a subversion of traditional expectations, as does the rather rudimentary engraving. On one side, the university's coat of arms is framed by a circular wreath, a monument, while the reverse features an inscription commemorating the academy's bicentennial. The lettering itself, though formal in style, appears somewhat uneven. This piece embodies a quiet rebellion. The students, lacking official funding, used their resourcefulness to create a tangible symbol of protest. By choosing such simple materials and forms, they destabilize the conventional understanding of value and commemoration, hinting at deeper socio-political undercurrents within the academic environment.