Terechtstelling van Marie Antoinette 1793

This silver medal commemorating Marie Antoinette's execution presents a complex interplay of symbols. On one side, we see a profile of the Queen, while the reverse depicts Lady Justice with scales and a sword. Justice, often seen as blind, impartially weighing evidence, has roots stretching back to ancient Egypt with Ma'at, the embodiment of truth, balance, and cosmic order. Yet, this image of Justice, produced in the wake of the French Revolution, carries a certain irony. The scales, meant to symbolize fairness, seem to be forever unbalanced. Like the Furies of ancient Greek drama, pursuing vengeance, the revolutionaries, fueled by rage and a thirst for retribution, were perhaps driven by subconscious desires, their actions mirroring the tragic narratives of antiquity. Lady Justice has appeared time and time again throughout history as an embodiment of what we want society to be. This medal is an artifact of the symbol's cyclical and ever-evolving journey.