Collegium Medicum te Amsterdam, toegangspenning voor de hortus medicus van Frederik Broekhuijsen 1791

Editor: This bronze relief, "Collegium Medicum te Amsterdam, toegangspenning voor de hortus medicus van Frederik Broekhuijsen" was created in 1791 by Willem de Wijs. I'm struck by how much detail he was able to carve into such a small space. What are your impressions? Curator: The symbolic language of Neoclassicism is potent here, speaking of order, reason, and civic virtue. Note the figure on the front – reminiscent of Aesculapius, the Greek god of medicine. Do you see how he is depicted with the serpent coiled around his staff? This is a powerful emblem, persisting even today, for healing and medical knowledge. Editor: Yes, I see it now. The snake seems to be whispering wisdom. And on the reverse, is that a coat of arms? Curator: Indeed! The crowned shield of Amsterdam. But consider the placement. It's not simply a display of civic pride. Surrounded by flora, it implies that Amsterdam's strength and identity are rooted in its cultivation and understanding of the natural world, particularly its medicinal garden. Editor: So it's about connecting knowledge and civic identity? Curator: Precisely! It speaks to the broader 18th-century Enlightenment ideals. Science and reason not only benefit individuals but strengthen the very fabric of society. Look how knowledge pours to the population depicted as Amsterdam. What are your thoughts? Editor: It's like the coin isn't just a ticket but a miniature representation of Amsterdam's values at the time. I hadn't thought about a coin carrying so much cultural weight. Curator: Precisely. Even small objects, like this entrance token, become vessels of cultural memory and transmit important social messages across generations. They carry meaning far beyond their immediate use.