Opening van de muntbus te Harderwijk en aanstelling van Martinus Holtzhey als muntmeester van Gelderland 1749

This gold medal commemorates the opening of the mint in Harderwijk and the appointment of Martinus Holtzhey as mint master of Gelderland. Justice, an enduring symbol of moral rectitude, appears on both sides of the medal. On one side, we see her seated, holding a spear, an attribute of power and authority since antiquity. Flip the medal, and Justice stands with scales, a symbol of equilibrium and fairness, which can be traced back to ancient Egypt and beyond. Her presence here is a conscious revival, connecting the new mint with a long history of just governance. Below her, a beaver, a symbol of diligence, gnaws away at the base of the minting press. A detail that speaks volumes. Like an actor in a classical tragedy, it's a cyclical narrative, where each era grapples with the concepts of justice, labor, and prosperity. The beaver is diligently gnawing, with powerful force engaging the viewer with an emotional and subconscious depth.