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

This is a silver medal, made by Reynier Arondeaux sometime between 1678 and 1727. It commemorates the suppression of the Undertakers' Riot in Amsterdam, which occurred in response to regulations on burial practices. The medal's imagery and inscriptions were die-struck using a press, an industrial process that began to transform coin and medal-making in the early modern period. This technique allowed for the relatively efficient production of detailed imagery. Note the design on the front, featuring Neptune, god of the sea, who symbolizes the power of Amsterdam to maintain order. On the back, an inscription praises the city's senate for its fidelity and generosity. The use of silver, a precious metal, adds to the medal's symbolic value, reinforcing the authority of the ruling class. Consider this object not just as a historical artifact, but as a product of its time, reflecting the social, economic, and political forces at play in Amsterdam. It bridges the gap between fine art, craft, and industrial production, offering insights into the relationship between power, material culture, and social control.