Vroedschapspenning van de stad 's-Hertogenbosch 1714 - 1720

Curator: This is the Vroedschapspenning of the city of 's-Hertogenbosch, dating from 1714 to 1720. It’s a medal, likely crafted from silver or a similar metal, and created by Theodorus Casparus van Berckel. Editor: My first impression is of a miniature world, pressed into being. It’s striking how the artist has managed to convey so much detail within such a limited space, wouldn’t you agree? Curator: Absolutely. And the very nature of a coin – a medium of exchange, of power, really – transforms these cityscapes and symbolic figures into commodities, signs of municipal identity circulated amongst its elite. Editor: Tell me more about the depictions themselves. The building on one side seems particularly grand. Curator: On one side, we see a detailed depiction of the Stadhuis, the city hall, while the other side showcases the city skyline itself. These weren’t merely aesthetic choices. They were about reinforcing the authority and image of 's-Hertogenbosch, weren't they? Highlighting its architectural achievements as visual testaments to its civic strength and importance. Editor: Yes, it strikes me how these buildings are presented almost as fortifications of political power. I'm thinking of the skilled artisan work; the crafting processes speak volumes about 18th-century metalworking, each strike, each indentation is the exercise of labor manifested to reflect political order. Curator: Exactly. And it's fascinating to consider the medal's materiality. Think of the specific techniques needed to create this level of detail in relief, which involves an enormous amount of careful and intentional labor. It also says a great deal about the value the elites of the time would attach to their civic role within the city. Editor: And of course, we must acknowledge its symbolic function. This was not just about depicting buildings and skylines, but communicating power, legitimacy, and the city’s unique character to both internal and external audiences, and even serving as gifts between nobles. Curator: Precisely. It makes one think of who would hold this, who would touch it. The sensorial engagement connects users intimately to a sense of civic pride. It is as much about that feeling, that physical link to this imagery, as it is a pure symbolic representation. Editor: It gives a unique snapshot of artistic skills and values embedded in social and political conditions of the 18th century. A coin reflecting far more than currency. Curator: Agreed. It gives a window into the priorities and artistic culture during that time.