Balthasar Bekker, predikant te Amsterdam, door de synode te Alkmaar afgezet 1698

This silver medal, created by Jan (I) Smeltzing in 1698, commemorates the controversial Dutch theologian Balthasar Bekker. The medal features a portrait of Bekker on one side, while the other depicts a woman representing the Church, holding a staff and a cross, symbolizing her authority. This piece exemplifies the artistic response to religious and political controversies of the 17th century, with its portrayal of a key figure during a time of intense intellectual debate.