Assassination of the Brothers Cornelius and Johann de Witt at The Hague [obverse] 1672

This silver medal was designed by Pierre Aury to commemorate the brutal assassination of the brothers Cornelius and Johann de Witt in 1672. The De Witt brothers were powerful figures in Dutch politics during a tumultuous period marked by war with England and France. The medal presents their profiles, but it’s what this image doesn’t show that speaks volumes. Cornelius and Johann were lynched by a mob in The Hague, a shocking act of violence fueled by political tensions and propaganda. The brothers, who represented a more republican faction, were targeted by supporters of the House of Orange. This medal, therefore, becomes a poignant, if silent, commentary on the fragility of power, the dangers of political polarization, and the brutal reality of public sentiment turned violent. It encapsulates a moment of profound loss and societal breakdown, prompting reflection on the human cost of political conflict.