Verkiezing van Bernardus Blok tot secretaris van de gecommitteerde raden in West-Friesland en het Noorderkwartier, penning geslagen op last van het Patriottisch Genootschap te Enkhuizen 1785

This medal was created by Johan George Holtzhey to commemorate Bernardus Blok's appointment. The image shows a female figure standing triumphantly over a serpent next to a column. Note the serpent, an ancient symbol of chaos and evil. Here, it is being vanquished by a female figure, likely representing virtue or reason, an allegory for Blok’s triumph over disorder. The column behind her has a civic coat of arms. We see this motif echoing through history: consider the Greek goddess Athena, often depicted with a serpent at her feet, symbolizing wisdom overcoming primal instinct. The persistence of the serpent motif speaks to our collective subconscious. It taps into our primal fears and desires, reminding us of the constant tension between order and chaos. The serpent’s recurring presence across cultures shows how these symbols evolve, adapting to new cultural contexts while retaining their emotional power.