Verwoesting van het standbeeld voor de hertog van Alva opgericht in de citadel van Antwerpen Possibly 1574 - 1579

This medal, made of gold by an anonymous maker, commemorates the destruction of a statue of the Duke of Alva in Antwerp. The medal is small, but it speaks volumes about the political and social context in which it was made. The intricate details were achieved through careful die-striking, a process that involves hammering metal between engraved dies. The choice of gold as the material elevates the medal beyond a mere token, signifying the importance of the event it commemorates. We see the destruction of a symbol of power, of Spanish oppression in the Netherlands. The very act of producing this medal was likely an act of defiance, a way to broadcast dissent. It’s a reminder that even the smallest objects can carry immense cultural weight.