Johann Albrecht Braunsy, muntmeester te Zellerfeld 1731

This small coin, created by an anonymous artist, presents a fascinating study in symbols of power and continuity. One side features a crest, with the Brauns family name, framed by what seems to be laurel leaves, a classical symbol of triumph and immortality, often associated with Roman emperors and gods. Turn the coin, and you'll see a bird perched on a tree, a motif with deep roots in human culture. Birds, seen as messengers between the earthly and divine realms, frequently symbolize the soul or spirit. Here, the bird may represent the hope for deliverance, finding refuge in the tree of life. In earlier Christian iconography, birds were depicted drinking from a chalice, symbolizing the soul's nourishment from divine grace. But such symbols are never static; they migrate and adapt. The bird, once a symbol of spiritual sustenance, might here suggest a plea for constancy. Consider its presence— a primal link that resurfaces, ever altered, yet stubbornly present in our collective memory.