Aanvang van de 19de eeuw 1799 - 1800

This silver medal, titled "Aanvang van de 19de eeuw", was designed by Daniel Friedrich Loos around the turn of the 19th century. Its creation emerged during a period of significant transition in Europe, marked by the decline of monarchies and the rise of enlightenment ideals. The medal depicts Janus, the two-faced god of beginnings and transitions, looking simultaneously to the past and future. The imagery encapsulates the complex emotions of the time, a mix of nostalgia for the old order and optimism for the new century. The medal speaks to the radical changes that were reshaping society. As traditional hierarchies crumbled, new social structures and systems of thought emerged. In its totality, the medal is not merely a historical artifact, it's an invitation to consider the cyclical nature of history. We are constantly negotiating the past and future, and invites us to reflect on our own place within the grand sweep of time.