Aftreden van baron Surlet de Chokier als regent van België, penning geslagen uit naam van het Nationaal Congres 1831

This silver medal, crafted by Julien Gabriel Leclercq, commemorates a pivotal moment in Belgian history. On one side, we see the profile of Baron Surlet de Chokier, Regent of Belgium. The very act of depicting a political figure on a coin hearkens back to ancient Roman practices, where the emperor's image was a symbol of power and authority. The inscription “La Belgique Indépendante” connects this moment to the broader narrative of national identity. The concept of independence, so potently symbolized here, has roots stretching back to the ancient struggle for autonomy. Like the snake biting its own tail, the fight for self-determination is doomed to resurface again and again. The imagery serves as a potent reminder of the cyclical nature of history. This medal, beyond its immediate context, taps into a reservoir of collective memory, resonating with the timeless human desire for freedom and self-governance.