Allegory of Public Health, Safety, and Welfare [reverse] c. 1713

"Allegory of Public Health, Safety, and Welfare" is a bronze medal created by French artist Jean Mauger in 1713. The medal depicts two female figures, representing public health and safety, standing on either side of an altar. The altar features the caduceus, a symbol of healing, as well as a wreath and other decorative elements. The medal commemorates a ceremony in which a town’s health was entrusted to the care of St. Roch, the patron saint of plagues. It is a fine example of the allegorical style, with its use of personified figures and symbolic objects.