Opening van de Oosterscheldebrug 15 december 1965, penning aangeboden aan het Rijksmuseum te Amsterdam 1965

Curator: This is a commemorative medal from 1965, celebrating the opening of the Oosterscheldebrug, or Eastern Scheldt Bridge, offered as a gift to the Rijksmuseum by the Koninklijke Utrechtsche Fabriek van Zilverwerken van C.J. Begeer. Editor: It strikes me as very classically styled. Even though it commemorates a relatively modern feat of engineering, it speaks to history and tradition through its very form and the visual language of heraldry. Curator: Indeed. On one side, we see the Zeeland coat-of-arms, complete with rampant lions, indicating the province’s strength and sovereignty. It's framed by very deliberate symmetry. Editor: And on the other side, the bridge itself, almost like a Roman aqueduct! The bridge image anchors a layout whose upper section gives prominence to the text ‘Opening Oosterscheldebrug 15-12-1965’. Note also the subtle laurel wreath, another nod to classical antiquity, almost visually canonizing the bridge itself. Curator: Commemorative medals like these played an important role in documenting progress and shaping national identity. The Oosterscheldebrug was a massive undertaking. Distributing this medal, in essence, broadcasts the magnitude of the achievement throughout the entire country. Editor: Absolutely. And considering the time it was made, in the post-war era of reconstruction and national rebuilding, it's reasonable to suppose it’s intended to function as a source of civic pride in infrastructural prowess and collective achievement. The material itself is part of this narrative. Something about its heft makes it more impactful. Curator: The weight of the metal undoubtedly conveys a sense of value and importance, physically embodying the significance of the event. Each curve, inscription, and geometric motif speaks to precision and an industrial prowess indicative of mid-century engineering optimism. Editor: Looking at the medal this closely makes me appreciate the intentionality in these small, everyday objects that are often overlooked despite how carefully designed they are. Curator: Yes, and thinking about all these layers does invite reflection on what it really means to honor these kinds of grand public endeavors.