Op de demping van het aansprekersoproer te Amsterdam naar aanleiding van de keur op het begraven 1696

This is a cast silver medal made by I. Roskam commemorating the suppression of the aansprekersoproer, or "summoners' riot," in Amsterdam. The imagery is rich with meaning. Notice Neptune, god of the sea, and his horses emerging from the waves on one side. The medal was created using techniques that have changed little since antiquity. A design is modeled, then a mold is made, and molten metal is poured in. The pressure of this process allows for crisp details to be rendered on both sides. The choice of silver is also worth considering. Coins and medals have long been made from precious metals, but here, the material is not just about intrinsic value. The coolness of the silver, the way it reflects light, lends the scene a sense of authority. It transforms a moment of social unrest into a symbol of enduring power. By considering the material and the means of production, we can better appreciate the medal not just as a work of art, but as a reflection of the values and power structures of its time.