Commemorating the Tercentenary of Trinity College, Dublin in 1892 1892

Edmond Johnson crafted this commemorative medal around 1892 to mark three centuries of Trinity College, Dublin. Note the dual profiles: Queen Elizabeth I, who authorized the college's founding, and Queen Victoria, reigning during the tercentenary. Both are adorned with symbols of sovereignty and status. The crown, that emblem of power, echoes through history, from ancient rulers to medieval monarchs, each instantiation imbued with the weight of authority and divine right. Here, it marks both queens as figureheads of their respective eras. Consider the gaze of these royal figures. Their composed expressions, directed forward, suggest not only leadership but a projection of enduring legacy. This echoes a primal urge: to leave one's mark, to transcend mortality through lasting impact, subtly reminding us of our own fleeting existence. Like images passed down through generations, the power of symbols lies in their ability to trigger collective memory and evoke deeply rooted emotional responses, reminding us that history is not linear, but rather a cyclical process of rediscovery and reinterpretation.