De schutterijcompagnie van wijk 46 tot wapenoefening aangespoord, penning door kapitein Jacob Anthony de Roth aan alle manschappen uitgedeeld c. 1783 - 1784

This silver medal was created by Johan George Holtzhey. The artistry lies in the manipulation of metal, a medium prized for its durability, but requiring immense skill to transform. Holtzhey, as a medalist, would have employed techniques like die-striking to impress designs onto the silver. The medal’s imagery, on one side, displays a captain handing out medals to his company, while the other shows military accoutrements. These scenes were likely first engraved in hardened steel, and then used to stamp multiple versions onto softer silver blanks. This medal is not just about commemorating military preparedness. It embodies the social dynamics of the time. Medals like these were often commissioned by civic groups, guilds, or even military units as symbols of membership, achievement, or allegiance. The medal is a testament to a system of reward, recognition, and the social structures that bound communities together. By considering its material and process, we can appreciate how this small object offers insight into the world of 18th-century Dutch society.