's-Hertogenbosch, vroedschapspenning op de aanleg van de steenweg van 's-Hertogenbosch naar Eindhoven 1741

This silver coin was struck by Theodorus Everardus van Berckel to commemorate the construction of the highway from 's-Hertogenbosch to Eindhoven. Notice the way the design is impressed into the metal through a process called striking, where a die is hammered or pressed onto a metal blank. The inherent qualities of silver – its malleability and capacity to capture fine detail – are crucial to the coin’s function as a record of this important infrastructure project. On one side, we see a detailed depiction of the city, reflecting a civic pride. The other side shows Mercury, god of commerce, and a seated female figure, likely representing the city itself, together symbolizing prosperity and progress made possible by improved transportation. The coin is not just a symbol of economic development, but also a testament to the skilled labor involved in both its creation and that of the highway it celebrates. It blurs the lines between craft, industrial progress, and fine art, reminding us that even the smallest objects can carry significant cultural meaning.