Vijftigjarig huwelijk van Paulus van Beresteyn en Volckera Nicolai 1624

This silver medal by Adriaen de Grebber commemorates the 50th wedding anniversary of Paulus van Beresteyn and Volckera Nicolai. The medal presents their conjoined portraits, encircled by an inscription. Turn the medal, and you'll find the compelling image of an ouroboros encircling a nest with two turtledoves. The ouroboros, a serpent eating its tail, symbolizes eternity and cyclical renewal, a motif found across cultures from ancient Egypt to Norse mythology. The turtledoves are ancient symbols of love, fidelity, and peace. Note how the ouroboros and doves, symbols with pagan origins, take on a Christian dimension. The psychological weight of such symbols is profound: the ouroboros speaks to our subconscious understanding of life's cycles, while the turtledoves evoke our deepest desires for love and connection. The image serves not only as a memento of a long marriage, but also engages with fundamental human experiences, illustrating how certain cultural symbols persist, their meanings evolving yet retaining a core emotional power.