Oprichting van een monument in Den Hout bij Haarlem door burgemeesters en raad, ter ere van het vierde eeuwfeest van de uitvinding van de boekdrukkunst 1823

This silver medal, made by Vries & Zoon, commemorates the fourth centenary of the invention of printing. Its smooth, reflective surface is achieved through a process of die-striking, where metal is forced into a mold under immense pressure, capturing the intricate details of the commemorative design. This mode of reproduction, itself related to the printing press, makes it perfectly suited for this subject. One side depicts the monument erected in Den Hout, while the other bears an inscription honoring Laurens Jansz Koster, celebrated in Haarlem as the inventor of printing. The choice of silver isn’t accidental; it lends a sense of prestige and permanence, befitting the celebration of such a groundbreaking invention. The medal is not just an artwork; it's a small, potent symbol of civic pride, labor, and the transformative power of the printing press. It shrinks the scale of the monument, making the invention of printing accessible and reproducible.