's-Hertogenbosch, vroedschapspenning op het eeuwfeest van de inname van de stad 1729

Editor: So this is a medal, made in 1729 by Theodorus Casparus van Berckel, commemorating the centenary of the capture of 's-Hertogenbosch. It feels weighty with history, all those emblems squeezed onto a small disc of metal. What stands out to you? Curator: The density of symbolic imagery is striking. The shields crowned with elaborate headgear represent civic authority, certainly. But consider the placement of those childlike figures. How does their nakedness and flanking posture amplify the authority of the arms and the occasion being commemorated? Editor: I hadn't really noticed them at first. Are they allegorical figures? What could they be holding, or presenting? Curator: Perhaps victory wreaths, or even the keys to the city? Think about the enduring power associated with such acts. By repeating these symbols across generations, how might it impact collective memory, or a feeling of power? Editor: So the image itself reinforces the cultural significance of the event. Like a mental shortcut for remembering history. Curator: Exactly! Notice how the date is woven into the design, reinforcing that the event remains rooted in our mind. It’s more than just documentation, but a sort of ritualistic enactment of memory. Editor: It's like a portable piece of propaganda! I never considered that coins or medals could work in that way, shaping the narrative of events for posterity. Thank you. Curator: My pleasure. Now you’ll never look at a coin the same way again!