Concours van de lagere scholen in de provincie Antwerpen 1840

This bronze medal, created by Laurent Joseph Hart in 1840, commemorates the "Concours van de lagere scholen in de provincie Antwerpen" (Competition of Primary Schools in the Province of Antwerp). The obverse depicts a seated female figure, likely representing the province of Antwerp, holding a laurel wreath and a scroll, symbolizing knowledge and success. The reverse features an open book surrounded by a wreath, emphasizing the importance of education. The medal, now housed in the Rijksmuseum, stands as a testament to the value placed on education in 19th-century Belgium.