Opening van de Beurs te Londen 1844 1844

Curator: This commemorative medal from 1844 by Allen & Moore marks the "Opening van de Beurs te Londen," or the opening of the London Stock Exchange. It resides here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: It feels quite cold to me. Something about the metal and the precise lines; it gives the impression of austere formality. Curator: That formality reflects the neoclassical architectural style celebrated on the medal’s reverse, mirroring the actual Royal Exchange. It's meant to evoke the stability and order associated with both the monarchy and financial institutions. The obverse showing Queen Victoria and Prince Albert links royal authority with London’s growing economic power. Editor: The way the figures of Victoria and Albert are rendered—they're so flattened. This process and material flatten individual agency into a circulating symbol. Do we know which metal it’s made from, specifically? That could change my perception. Curator: Possibly silver, a metal often associated with purity and value, obviously chosen to represent the wealth connected with the Exchange. Think of it as an icon of progress— linking power and trade. Editor: I suppose the repetitive, almost mass-produced, feel of the neoclassical design aligns with the rise of industrial capitalism at the time. Was this medal meant for wide distribution, as some sort of propaganda of the era? Curator: Quite likely. These medals often served to reinforce a particular narrative and cultivate public sentiment. The inscription leaves no doubt: royal approval and the building’s grand opening were very symbolically linked. Editor: Looking at it from that angle, the "coldness" I perceived seems to become a purposeful statement— a calculated message meant to inspire confidence in the market, and awe towards its patrons. I had considered the materiality simply reflecting contemporary artistic practice, but clearly this medal intended a greater social impact. Curator: Indeed. The visual language works to subtly underscore a particular world view. Editor: Yes, examining it from both material and symbolic perspectives gives us richer insight into this object as a document of a very specific historical moment.