Eeuwfeest van de verovering van Breda door Frederik Hendrik 1737

This silver medal commemorating the centennial of the capture of Breda was created by Nicolaas van Swinderen. Note how the figure of the triumphant Patria, the Fatherland, rides in a chariot over broken weapons. Above, Fame trumpets news of the jubilee. The image of the chariot, drawn here by implication not horses but the very spirit of victory, has ancient roots. Consider the Roman triumphs, where generals paraded in chariots to celebrate military success. But this medal is more than just a celebration of victory; it is a statement of identity. The serpent biting its tail, the ouroboros, symbolizes the cyclical nature of time and, by extension, cultural memory itself. It evokes feelings of continuity and renewal. The emotions tied to these symbols are not static; they are constantly being reinterpreted, revived, and given new life as they resurface through history.