Louis Joseph de Potter 1830

Adrien Hippolyte Veyrat’s circular silver medal, features a profile portrait of Louis Joseph de Potter. Notice the coin's metallic sheen, catching the light to define the contours of Potter's face. The meticulous carving captures the details of his hair and distinctive sideburns. Turning the coin over, the reverse side is dominated by the inscription "LIBERTE PATRIE" encircled by a wreath of oak leaves. This coin is not merely a portrait but a carefully constructed object embedded with signs and signifiers. The profile, a classical trope, lends Potter an air of timeless authority, while the inscriptions tie him directly to the burgeoning ideologies of nationhood and freedom. The oak leaves, a traditional symbol of strength and endurance, form a visual frame. They create a semiotic loop that reinforces the values inscribed at the coin's heart. The medal is an eloquent interplay between form and content, a small object charged with historical and philosophical significance.