Herroeping van het edict van Nantes 1685

This silver medal was made by Jan Smeltzing in the late 17th century, likely using a combination of casting and engraving techniques. The choice of silver is significant. Highly prized, it was associated with wealth, power, and purity. The medal's design is divided into two sides: one portraying Louis XIV, and the other commemorating the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. Notice how the silver lends itself to the crisp details of Louis XIV’s hair and the allegorical scene on the reverse. The act of striking and distributing medals like these was a form of political propaganda, transforming precious metal into a tool of statecraft. The medal’s small size belies the immense labor involved in its creation. By understanding the material and the making, we can appreciate how this object transcends its function. This medal is more than just a commemorative token; it’s a statement of royal power, immortalized in silver.