Verdediging van de citadel van Antwerpen, penning uitgereikt aan de verdedigers van de citadel en aan de manschappen op de vloot op de Schelde door de Commissie van erkentenis te Amsterdam 1832 - 1833

This is a medal by David van der Kellen, commemorating the defence of the citadel of Antwerp. It was awarded by the Amsterdam Commission of Recognition to those who defended the citadel and served on the fleet on the Schelde. The medal reflects the complex intersection of military service, national identity, and civic recognition in the 19th-century Netherlands. The classical figure on the medal, armed with a shield, evokes a sense of historical continuity and valor. The choice of a classical motif could also suggest the virtues of courage, duty, and sacrifice that were seen as essential to military service and national defense. This medal served as a token of gratitude, but also as a symbol of belonging and pride for those who had served their nation. It embodies the historical and emotional connection between individual experiences and broader narratives of nationhood.