Vijftigjarig bestaan der vrijmetselaarsloge "La Vertu" te Leiden, ter herinnering aan de ontploffing van de kruitboot aan de Rapenburg te Leiden 1807

This silver medal commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of the masonic lodge "La Vertu" in Leiden and remembers the Leiden gunpowder disaster. In it, we see symbolic imagery of a kneeling woman, perhaps representing virtue or remembrance, next to an altar as death approaches. The medal references two distinct yet intertwined events. First, the fiftieth anniversary of a masonic lodge, and second, a tragic explosion. It suggests an appeal to ideals of brotherhood, progress, and reason. The imagery and text encourage us to contemplate the interplay between public and private spheres, and reason and disaster in the Netherlands at the start of the 19th century under Napoleonic rule. To understand it better, look into the history of freemasonry in the Netherlands, the history of Leiden during the Napoleonic Era, and the details of the gunpowder explosion. By exploring these resources, we can better appreciate the medal's cultural and historical significance.